William D. O'Brien

William (Don) O’Brien, 64, of Manchester, died January 27, 2012 at his residence after a brief illness. He was born in Manchester, the son of William J. and Marilyn (Ayer) O’Brien and was a lifelong resident of the Queen City. He was educated in the Manchester School System and was a graduate of Manchester Central High School Class of 1965.

Bill served in the US Army during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1968 and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was employed as a printer at Moore Business Forms with over 30 years of service.

He was an ardent sports fan and enjoyed playing basketball as well as coaching the St. Francis of Assisi basketball teams. He was also an avid New York Yankees fan even though he rooted for them alone. Known to all as “OB”, he could sometimes come across as “grumpy”, but beneath it all was a big man with a heart of gold who will be greatly missed by his friends and neighbors. He loved a good round of golf, was a member of the Derryfield Country Club and leaves behind his many golfing buddies. OB was also a member of the Henry J. Sweeney Post and the DAV Chapter 1 and volunteered at the Blessed Sacrament Food Pantry.

Members of his family include his wife of 39 years Barbara (Stoklosa) O’Brien of Manchester, his son Jim O’Brien and his wife Amy of Hopkinton, his daughter Karen O’Brien and her husband James Jones of London, England, his four grandchildren Aiden O’Brien, Owen O’Brien, Liam O’Brien and Charlotte O’Brien, his brother Edward O’Brien of Manchester, his two sisters, Estelle Desmarais of Manchester and Mary Cenatiempo and her husband Ralph of Manchester as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A visitation was held on Wednesday February 1st from 4 to 7PM at the McHugh Funeral Home, 283 Hanover St. corner of Beech St. in Manchester. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday February 2nd at 10AM in Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Elm St. in Manchester. Interment followed in the NH State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bill’s name to the Blessed Sacrament Food Pantry, 14 Elm St. Manchester, NH 03103.