John B. O'Brien, Jr.

West Springfield � John �Jack� B. O�Brien, Jr. passed away peacefully on Monday at Baystate Medical Center. He was born in Springfield to the late Florence (Morin) and former West Springfield Police Chief John B. O�Brien, Sr. Jack grew up in West Springfield and lived most of his life here. In his retirement he lived in West Harwich, MA and spent winters for almost twenty-five years in Haines City, FL. He was formerly a communicant of St. Thomas Church in West Springfield, Holy Trinity Church in Harwich, and St. Ann�s Church of Haines City, FL. Jack graduated from West Springfield High School, attended the University of Massachusetts and later graduated as the class president of the New England Institute of Mortuary Science. He was a U.S. Navy WWII Veteran. Jack was the Director of Sales and Advertising of the former Hampden Brewing Company before starting his career in the funeral business. He owned and operated the Toomey-O�Brien Funeral Home in West Springfield until his retirement in 1986. He was a past Director of West Springfield Boys and Girls Club, Mount St. Vincent Nursing Home, former member of the Dante Club, charter member of the West Springfield/Agawam Elks Lodge 2174, the American Legion Post 207, Unity Council Knights of Columbus 2212, Passionist Monastery Laymen�s Retreat League, West Springfield Lions Club and West Springfield Rotary Club, where he was a recipient of the Paul Harris Award. Jack was a former Chairman of the West Springfield Board of Health and was chosen Democrat of the Year in 1989. He was a member of the Massachusetts and National Funeral Directors Associations. Jack was predeceased by his beloved wife of 58 years, Norma A. (Cogans) O�Brien in 2008. He was the loving father of Francis X. O�Brien and his wife Ellen of Wilbraham, T.J. O�Brien and his wife Mary of West Springfield, and Kathleen O�Brien-Moore and her husband Patrick Moore of West Springfield, father-in-law of Lisa O�Brien of West Springfield, caring grandfather of Sheila, Terry, and Francis O�Brien, Katie and Marty O�Brien, Chelsea and Kerry O�Brien and Colin, Megan, and Kelly Moore, devoted brother of Joan Patten and her husband Dan of West Springfield and the late Marilyn McGilpin. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. Jack was predeceased by his two cherished sons, Martin J. O�Brien in 1972 and John F. O�Brien in 1995. He will be missed by all of his friends, new and old at Quail Run in Agawam. The family would like to thank LifeCare of Wilbraham and the nurses and doctors on the 4th floor of Wesson at Baystate Medical Center for the care they gave our father the last weeks of his life. There will be a Liturgy of Christian Burial Saturday at 10 AM at St. Thomas Church, 63 Pine Street, West Springfield. Burial will follow at the St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday from 5-8 PM at TOOMEY-O�BRIEN FUNERAL HOME, 1043 Westfield Street, West Springfield. In lieu of flowers donations in Jack�s memory can be made to St. Thomas School, 75 Pine Street, West Springfield, MA 01089.