Daniel J O'Brion

Daniel J. O’Brion, 46, of Portland passed away unexpectedly at his home in Portland on August 16. He was born January 28, 1966, the son of Ronald G. and Kathleen V. (Flaherty ) O’Brion. He attended schools in Portland, but his high school career was interrupted by a car accident in which he suffered serious injuries. At age 16, he was not expected to regain the ability to walk after complex surgery and an extended stay in the hospital. With uncommon determination, at the age of 17 he stubbornly hiked up the Fire Warden trail on Pleasant Mountain. Later he went to work at Fogg’s Body Shop in Portland, and resumed being the rambunctious kid we all loved.

As a youngster he loved all things fast and loud-dirt bikes, three wheelers, trucks, dogs, and guns. In later years he managed to live a rich life in spite of his physical limitations and chronic pain. He travelled to Florida and Las Vegas to pursue his interest in NASCAR – Sterling Marlin was his favorite driver. He visited Ireland with his good friend Bob Connelly, kissing the Blarney Stone with great difficulty. Danny was a fixture at deer hunting camp in Stetson every November where he enjoyed preparing a hunter’s breakfast and his delicious leg of lamb for the boys. His hunting activity generally would consist of finding a field or dirt road with a good shooting lane, then promptly falling asleep in his lawn chair. He was a fan of the Celtics and curiously, the San Francisco Forty-Niners. He once lost a bet on a Niners’ game and had to eat a New York Giants hat. He enjoyed old cowboy movies, especially those starring John Wayne. He had a love for history, especially WWII, and also enjoyed reading books about past presidents.

Many summer nights at the family camp, you would find Danny surrounded by his nieces and nephews at the campfire, telling stories with his colorful language and offering outrageous opinions. He gleefully narrated the video recording of the burning of the first outhouse. He was outspoken, direct, and entirely loveable.

Danny was a longtime chef at Bruno’s Restaurant, a fixture for almost 30 years. He started with Bobby on India Street, moving to Market St and finally to Allen Avenue. He made dozens of friends along the way. We will be forever grateful to the Bruno’s family for their embrace of our little brother.

Dan was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by four brothers; Michael and his wife Deb of Portland, John and his wife Lina of Saco, Ronald Jr. and his wife Terry of Portland, and David of Falmouth; three sisters: Patrice of South Portland, Maureen (Snowden) and her husband John Snowden of Cape Elizabeth, and Linda (Strout) and her husband Rob Strout of Limington. He is also survived by his aunt, Mary Flaherty, with whom he shared a home. He will also be sorely missed by eleven nephews, six nieces, two great-nephews, and six great-nieces.

Family and friends are invited to a time of Visitation from 2-4 and 6-8 Monday, August 20, 2012 at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford's St. Portland. Prayers will be recited Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at the funeral home followed by a 10 am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 492 Ocean Ave Portland, Me. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Toys for Tots, contact [email protected] and visit their website www.topsham-me.toysfortots.org.