Bernard F. O'Brien

Bernard Francis O’Brien was born September 26, 1928 to John O’Brien and Bridget Terry O’Brien of Yonkers NY. He attended St. John’s Grammar School and graduated from Gorton HS in April 1946. Following graduation, Bernie joined the Navy and served on the USS Ranger CV4, USS Mona Island ARG9 and USS Jeffers DMS 27. Six months following his discharge from the Navy, Bernie returned to active duty with the US Army 101st Signal Battalion Corps and served in the Korean War.

Bernie earned a BS in Electrical Engineering New York University and MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson. The majority of his career was with the Bell System, including NY Bell, Western Electric, AT&T, Bell Labs and Bellcomm. He worked on AUTOVON, a worldwide voice communication network that served all branches of the Armed Forces. At Bellcomm, he worked with NASA on the communications network that connected Mission Control with the Apollo spacecraft.

Bernie married his great love, Marian Carey, of Yonkers on July 19, 1953, and together they raised four children. He was a great dad and always active in his children’s lives, from gently treating wounds, to braiding hair, to sewing Halloween costumes, to serving as a scout master and always ready with valued advice. He always valued the time he was able to spend with his grandkids, and always took an interest in their lives. During summers at the family cabin in the Adirondacks he enjoyed boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and spending time with family and old friends. He had many interests and talents and his children’s homes are adorned with cherished furniture, wood toys, sculptures and oil paintings he created. He was an excellent cook, always ready with a special meal for birthdays, holidays and family gatherings. He was also a musician, who sang and played several instruments.

Marian and Bernie lived over 25 years in Mendham, New Jersey before retiring to St. Augustine, Florida and then Bradenton, Florida. He is survived by his children Kathleen (Paul) Pruss, Kerry (Jeoffrey) Hall, Gary (Elizabeth Conaway) O’Brien, and grandchildren Colleen (Aron) Lam, Matthew (Alexander Lodi) Hall, Erin Hall, and Thomas Bond. Bernie was predeceased by his wife, Marian, daughter Tara Bond, son-in-law Thomas Bond, brother John O’Brien and sisters Catherine Landers, Maureen Wakulchik, Josephine Schneider and Arleen O’Brien.

A memorial mass will be celebrated in Sacred Heart Church on Saturday July 30th. Interment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery.