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Joseph O'Brien Obituary

Joseph A. O'Brien, 61, a Scranton native who lived for many years in New York City and whose lifelong passion was the theater, died Wednesday at the Hospice Community Care Center in Dunmore following a long illness. He suffered from familial amyloidosis, a rare genetic disorder.

A former assistant director of Camp St. Andrew in Tunkhannock and a former English teacher at Seton Catholic High School in Pittson and the Jesuit-run Loyola grade school on Manhattan's Upper East Side, Mr. O'Brien was employed in the business department of the New York office of BBH, an international advertising agency.

He was also a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the Actors Equity Association, and a former member of the Six Figures Acting Company, which produced original plays by nationally known playwrights in its own theatrical space on the city's Upper West Side. Before that, he studied with the National Shakespeare Company and was offered a repertory acting position on its national tour; he turned down the offer in order to remain in Manhattan. In addition, Mr. O'Brien formerly worked in a repertory company specializing in school productions in the New York region.

He also spent many summers acting in theatrical productions throughout the Northeast and in the Midwest, and enjoyed auditioning and acting in productions in New York City, including the New York Fringe Festival.

He had a featured role in an episode of "Sex and the City" and he enjoyed noting that, as the character Father Andrew, he was the only priest to appear in the long-running television series about the love-lives of four single women in New York.

He was born March 18, 1952, and attended St. Patrick and St. Clare grade schools and Scranton Preparatory School. In the fall after he was graduated from Prep, he entered Pius X Diocesan Seminary and pursued his undergraduate degree at the University of Scranton as a seminarian. He returned to secular life in his last semester of college, earned his bachelor's degree in English and in the following fall, he took a job teaching at Seton Catholic. He worked at Camp St. Andrew during his summers as a seminarian.

After teaching at Seton Catholic, Mr. O'Brien earned his master's degree in English at the University of Notre Dame, where he became involved in the school's theatrical productions.

He moved to the National Shakespeare Company from Notre Dame and then taught at Loyola before moving to BBH.

He is survived by three sisters, Ellen, Joan Volz and Maureen McAliney, all of Scranton; three brothers, Robert A. of Huntington, N.Y.; Dennis of Ellicott City, Md.; and Kevin of Washington, D.C.; 16 nieces and nephews; and seven grandnieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by a sister, Maryanne Donohue of Scranton; and a beloved niece, Maeve McAliney of Scranton.

Calling hours will be Sunday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Eugene Cusick Funeral Home, 217 Jefferson Ave., Scranton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Church. Those attending the Mass are asked to proceed directly to the church.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Scranton Times on Apr. 5, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph O'Brien

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Victoria O'Donnell

May 9, 2014

Mr O'Brien was my 8th grade homeroom teacher at St Ignatius Loyola School in New York City from 1984-1985. He was very kind, funny and dedicated as he taught us Religion, Spelling and English.

I can still picture him holding his yellow legal pad every Friday afternoon as he split us into two teams to play an age-appropriate trivial pursuit game he'd written especially for us. It must have taken him hours to write these. He also took the time to direct the play "Our Town" just within our class.

It is thanks to Mr O'Brien that many of us went on to know our English Grammar backwards and forwards--he even made us diagram the Pledge of Allegiance and the Our Father!!!

I will never forget his religion classes. One day he spoke of Jesus and what he must have been like. My friend and I were so engrossed that we talked afterward about how interesting that class was.

He had a sweater vest that he and I would joke about because I was certain it had a design of a model-t car on it and he insisted it was a truck. I missed a lot of school that year and he was very gentle and encouraging about it. That meant a lot to me!

Several times my parents and I ran into him with his mother out to dinner in the neighborhood. He seemed devoted to her.

I've always remembered what a good guy Mr O'Brien was and a gifted teacher too. Thank you for everything, Mr O'Brien!!!

John Hopkins

April 23, 2013

Joe and his siblings and parents made me welcome in their home and in the driveway where basketball shaped our characters. For an only child, I had a big family in the O'Briens.

Chet Snyder

April 10, 2013

My love and prayers are with you. Although I have not had recent contact with Scranton friends of yesterday you are often in my thoughts when I remember blessings of years gone by. I've always admired Joe's wit and wisdom. May his goodness continue to inspire us. Blessings.
Chet Snyder

April 10, 2013

I had the pleasure of working with Joe at BBH. He was such a kind soul, I am so sorry to hear of his passing. I aways loved hearing his stories!

John Moran

April 8, 2013

To Bobby, Joan and all other OBrien sibblings, and to his neices, nephews and friends. So sorry to hear of your most recent loss. Scranton and New York have both lost a very talented, intelligent, caring and humorous citizen. May your pain be tempered and outweiged by the gift that Joey was to all!!
sincerely,
John Moran

Marianne Meehan Baker

April 7, 2013

So very very sorry for your loss. You are all in my prayers!! Now he can watch over you from heaven.

April 7, 2013

To all the O'Brien Family

I remember meeting Joe in NYC to attend the Thanksgiving Parade years ago with the Bob O'Brien Family. Big smile, fun and a very contagious laugh.
May he find peace . Alex and Mary Jane Moraga California

April 7, 2013

To the O'Brien family. So sorry to hear of Joey's passing. Our hearts go out to each of you and will keep you all in our thoughts ans prayers. Bob and Eileen Rojik

Brigid Noone

April 7, 2013

To all the O'Brien's,

I am so thankful for having Joey in my life. He will always be one of my most treasured friends. He has his biggest role ever now, though selfishly I wish he didn't pass this audition. What a great cast of characters he joins. Thinking of you all.

Sharon Callahan

April 7, 2013

Dear Maureen and all the O'Briens
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time

April 7, 2013

Sincere sympathy to all of the O'Briens on the loss of your brother. We were very sorry to learn of his passing.
Terry & Barbara Payton Murphy

Kara McDonough Seitzinger

April 7, 2013

Joanie and Maureen, I am so sorry for your loss. We have another Memorial Service we must attend today but please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Jimmy McNally

April 6, 2013

My thoughts and sympathies are with the O'Brien Family. I remember Joe vividly from Camp Saint Andrew both as a tiny kid (camper), and then a junior staff member. Joe taught my brother Billy and I to swim, and gave us lessons each summer at the Camp. I hope his positive contribution in the development of our life gives the O'Brien family peace during this time of sorrow. Peace of Christ. Jimmy McNally

April 6, 2013

To all the O'Briens,

I am so very thankful to have had Joey in my life as a rare, dear friend. He's got his biggest role ever now, though selfishly I wish he didn't pass this audition. Luckilly, heaven has a great cast which I'm sure has already welcomed him with open arms. He'll be a headliner there now. Thinking of you all. See you in Scranton.

Brigid Cusick Noone

Marie Quinlan

April 6, 2013

Joanie and all the O'Briens . . .

Joey will always be special to me. The memory of his contagious joy and loving way, I think, will always be present to those who knew him.

. . . Thanks, Joey!

Joe O'Hara

April 6, 2013

Kevin, Dennis, Bob, Joanie, Maureen and Ellen, So very sorry to hear about Joe. We join you in being blessed to have had him in our lives. He was such a terrific guy and so full of peace. I remember like it was just yesterday when Joe came to our house on Penn Avenue and sat down at the piano and played "Somewhere My Love" for good old Margaret Mullarkey, my Grandmother. Next thing I knew she made me learn it by heart, and play it for her every day. I can still play it, and so help me it is him I blame. I'm gonna belt it out in his honor in our home tonight so he and my Gram can laugh about it together. Benny and Joe were such good friends. God love Joe and all of you.

Gene Sweet

April 6, 2013

I'm really sorry to hear about the loss of Joe. Many good times and memories. He was (is) a good friend.

Anne Loughney

April 6, 2013

My sympathies to the entire O'Brien family. I remember Joey so fondly from our high school and college days. He was such a lovely person.

Pat White

April 6, 2013

Very sorry to hear about Joe's passing. As I remember he always had a smile on his face and a good word for everyone. He was very nice to me when I would see him at the baseball or basketball games. Sorry for your loss Bob.

P.J. & Mary Ann McDonough

April 6, 2013

Dear Bob, Joanie,and and the entire O'Brien family

Mary Ann and I are so sorry to hear of Joe's passing. We had heard he was ill for the last several years.
It seems like just last night when we were all playing basketball in your backyard. Well his suffering is over and he is in a better place. We will keep him in our prayers

April 5, 2013

To the O'Brien Family...You don't need to hear how wonderful Joey was...You know better than any of us. I am very sorry for your loss. His passing is a deep sorrow for anyone who had the privilege to know him. I only wish I had had the chance to talk to him after High School. It is something I will always regret. I have thought of him often since my son is also very involved in acting and the theater. God bless you all!
Patti Kenehan Krause

Gerard Lavelle

April 5, 2013

My deepest sympathies to the O'Brien Family on the passing of their beloved brother. I will always remember Joey's kind nature, bright smile and quick laugh, as well as all the afternoons and evenings we spent playing basketball in the O'Brien backyard. I will always have fond memories of Joey.

Tucker Roche

April 5, 2013

My deepest sympathy to the O'Brien family. I consider myself very fortunate to have had Joey as my friend. He will be missed by many.

Nancy Payton

April 5, 2013

My sincere condolences to the O'Briens. Joey's gifts of humor and storytelling and acting were always on display. .....even when he became ill. Such a good man. Somehow, Joey seemed to feel things on a deeper level than many of us. I am saddened to learn of his passing.

Michael O'Malley

April 5, 2013

So sorry to hear of his passing. I, like many, remember working with him several summers at Camp. He was a great man and led a very accomplished life.

Dave Tomanek

April 5, 2013

My deepest condolences to the entire extended O'Brien family. I have many very fond memories of Joe from Camp St. Andrew many years ago.

Connie Payton Ross

April 5, 2013

My deepest sympathy to the O'Brian family, Joey always greeted me with his beautiful smile and a "how are all the Paytons." God Bless you all, he will be missed.

Bill & Mary Zwick Condon

April 5, 2013

Dear Bob, Joan & siblings,
We were saddened to read about Joe and like to believe that his collegiate studies and the joy he gave to those who knew him continues. My only attempt at ice skating was at a party Joe arranged up in Dalton & another time we were talking about swimming,etc.& I told him I would watch the divers for hours as a kid but never could figure out the back dive and he took me to the CYC between classes and taught me how to do it. God bless Joe.

April 5, 2013

Kevin, Maureen, Joanie and the entire O'Brien family, please accept my deepest sympathy and prayers on the passing of Joe. I knew Joe from St. Pius X and his years at Camp St. Andrew. Joe had a contagious smile and was a really good person. I have many fond memories of him. May he rest in peace!
Jim King, West Chester, PA

Showing 1 - 29 of 29 results

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