James Alexander O'Brian

JAMES ALEXANDER O'BRIAN September 1, 1920 - February 24, 2021 Slipped away peacefully - not wanting to be a bother - in his 101st year. Beloved and devoted husband of Annie (nee Plunkett, d. 2012). Much loved father of Geoffrey (Jane), Jennifer, and Maggie. Adored grandfather of Patrick and Katie O'Brian; Liam (Kate), Madeleine, Elisabeth (Eric Gendron), Claire, Hilary, and Mawney Somerville (Liam McGuigan); Jacob, Colin and Stuart Frings and delighted great-grandfather of Olive Greiner, Ada and Alastair Somerville and Owen Gendron. Born, raised and living his entire life in downtown Toronto, pre-deceased by parents Geoffrey Stuart (d. 1956) and Kate (nee St. George, d. 1990), Jim's roots were Loyalist (UEL) on the O'Brian side and Irish-American on his mother's. He was the middle brother of three: Peter (d. 2007) and Liam. Educated at Crescent School, UTS, and Saint Andrew's College, Jim was a proud member of Princeton's class of '42. He left in 1941, before graduation, to join the RCAF, to follow his father and big brother Peter into war-time air-force duty. After training in England on Hurricanes, he served in north Africa and northern Europe, and flew Spitfires for 417 Squadron in Italy. Post-war, Jim finished his BA at Trinity College in Toronto, articled at Clarkson Gordon and became a CA in 1950, working at George Hendrie & Sons until retirement in 1985. In 1947, he married Annie. They celebrated their 65th anniversary a few months before she died. After retirement, Jim had great adventures with Annie and kept busy with volunteer work (St. Simon's Church, Ontario Trillium Foundation, St. John's Convalescent Home, Out of the Cold, North Pigeon Lake Association and Springbank Woods). Jimmy was always happiest in Bobcaygeon, puttering about at the cottage on Pigeon Lake just down the shore from where his grandfather had built a summer house in 1910. There was always some (never fully completed) project on the go but always time for a swim and a drink at the end of the day. His birthday was always held there on the Labour Day weekend and was a joyous occasion for family, neighbours and friends to gather and celebrate him. He invariably protested for weeks before that he didn't want a party and then of course loved every minute. Cremation has taken place. At a later date, Jim's ashes, along with Annie's, will be interred in the family plot in Bobcaygeon and hopefully then, family and friends will be able to come together and remember him - an incredibly handsome man of grace and strength blended with humour and curiosity. All tempered with kindness. Our heartfelt thanks to Belmont House for making his last home a happy, safe, and caring place. If desired, donations may be made in Jim's name to The Church of St. Peter and St. Simon-the-Apostle, Toronto (stpeterstsimon.ca) or The Boyd Heritage Museum, Bobcaygeon (theboydmuseum.com).