In Cherished Remembrance of
Eugene “Skip” O’Brien
October 3, 1944 ~ March 24, 2002
If you knew Skip, no words are needed,
If you didn’t, no words are enough.
Eugene “Skip” O'Brien was born on October 3, 1944, in Rochester, New Hampshire, son of Josephine (Barnard) and Eugene O'Brien, Sr. He was raised in Gonic and Rochester and had graduated from Spaulding High School in Rochester in 1962.
In his youth, Skip joined the Boy Scouts of America and remained actively involved
throughout his life. He enjoyed all of the activities associated with scouting, particularly camping. He loved attending worldwide scouting events and jamborees. Eventually, he participated as a staff member in several National Scout Jamborees and, in 1982, he traveled with Troop 33 to London, England, for the 75th anniversary of World Scouting. He was an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 33 in Jaffrey – where he will be well remembered by several Eagle Scouts. Everyone in Troop 33 evidenced Skip’s great sense of humor and self-sacrifice, especially when it came to raising money for different scout functions. The “Pie in the Police Chief’s Face” auction was one of many fondly remembered events.
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| Skip and the boys from Troop 33 with NH Governor Hugh Gallen |
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| The outcome of the “Pie in the Police Chief’s Face” Contest before their trip to England for the 75th Anniversary of Scouting. |
He was also an assistant commissioner for the Monadnock District and for many years was a member of the District Scoutmaster Training Staff. Skip was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award in recognition of his many years of service at the district level of scouting and was a holder of the Wood Badge, scouting’s premier training award. Skip was an avid collector of scouting memorabilia and enjoyed helping new scouts begin their own collections. He also frequently contributed to the foreign scouting collection at the Lawrence Lee Scouting Museum in Manchester.
After High School, Skip spent two years in Thailand as a Peace Corps Volunteer
in the area of community development. It was an experience that he considered to be the greatest in his life. As a result of this experience, Thailand became the one place in the world that Skip loved the most and finally had the chance to return to shortly before his death. Thai food was also very high on the list of Skip’s favorites.
Skip had attended the University of New Hampshire and received an Associates Degree in Agriculture. He then attended St. Anselm College in Manchester for Criminal Justice and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the former Nathaniel Hawthorne College in Antrim, New Hampshire.
Skip’s law enforcement career spanned more than 20 years. He started out as a patrolman in the towns of Rochester, NH, and Hampton, NH. Later he was a K-9 handler for 8 of his 13 years as a NH State Trooper stationed at Troop C in Keene.
In June of 1983, Skip became Chief of the Jaffrey Police Department where he was instrumental in starting the Juvenile Diversion Program for Jaffrey’s Youth. After his tenure as chief, he returned to the New Hampshire Department of Safety, and assisted in the development and implementation of the Emissions and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Divisions. Upon retirement from the State of New Hampshire, Skip moved to Florida where, because of his experience, he joined the State of Florida’s Emission Enforcement Division and later worked in the private sector in the same area.
When Skip visited his father in the Rochester Hospital, he met Suzanne Sans-Cartier, a nurse who was working there. A spark between them grew into a love of a lifetime. Skip and Sue married on January 17, 1971, and made their home first in Dover, NH. After Skip was transferred to NHSP Troop C in Keene, they moved to Rindge, NH, where they raised 2 beautiful daughters, Kathleen and Eileen.
Skip was a devout Catholic who believed that everything in life happened for a reason, and left the course of his illness in God’s hands. Skip died at age 57 on March 24, 2002, in Hudson, Florida, after his 2-year battle with cancer.
Skip is survived by his wife of 31 years, Suzanne; his daughter, Kathleen and her husband, Matthew Smith; his daughter, Eileen and her husband Robert Beaven; and his five grandchildren, Kelsey, Alysha and Ryan Smith, and Taylor and Delaney Beaven, all of Jaffrey.
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