BERNARD ANTHONY O'BRIEN

BERNARD ANTHONY O'BRIEN obituary, Chevy Chase, MD

BERNARD ANTHONY O'BRIEN

BERNARD O'BRIEN Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Aug. 19, 2025.
Bernard Anthony O'Brien of Cohasset, Mass., and for the past 14 years, Chevy Chase, Md., died Aug. 19. He was 94. Bernie was a retired psychologist and college professor who always had a positive message for his family, students and clients. We will profoundly miss the twinkle in his light blue eyes, his upbeat spirit and the warmth of his kindness.

Bernie had a private psychology practice in the Cohasset area for four decades, was an associate professor at Boston College for more than 30 years and was longtime chair of the graduate program in counseling psychology. He co-wrote two books on lasting marriages, but his passion was teaching students and helping people.

He was a devoted husband to his wife of 64-plus years, Evelyn (Villa) O'Brien; an outgoing and encouraging father to daughters Catherine Strong (Tom) of Chevy Chase and Mary O'Brien (Tyrone Cannon) of Newtown Square, Pa.; and a revered "partner in crime" when it came to consuming dessert and teasing his grandchildren, Ian (Megan), Nick, Cayla, Ari and Kate. He shares a birthday with his first great-grandchild, Lydia. He jokingly predicted that would happen and he referred to her as "Bernadette."

Bernie was born in Boston on Aug. 9, 1931. He was raised by his working mom, grandmother and sister in an apartment in a hardscrabble neighborhood in Roxbury while his father, a streetcar operator, was bedridden. He started bagging and delivering groceries in the fourth grade to help put food on the family table and received scholarships to attend Catholic schools, where he enjoyed playing baseball and hockey. He enlisted in the Army as a medic during the Korean War and credits the GI Bill, along with many hours working as a head waiter on catering jobs, for having the money to graduate Boston College (1957) and Catholic University (M.A. clinical psychology, 1961; Ph.D. counseling psychology, 1964). At the time, B.C. was a blue-collar commuting college that allowed Bernie to pay tuition each month while living at home. A hard worker, he spent countless hours in the classroom and in private practice. He eventually moved with his family to the seaside town of Cohasset where he enjoyed a view of the ocean for 40 years.

Bernie was a lifelong champion of the power of a college education to lift people out of challenging economic circumstances. He took great pleasure in admitting students to the graduate program in clinical psychology with scholarships. In 2001, after his retirement, he received B.C.'s Martin Luther King Community Service Award.

Bernie was quick to remind family and friends that he loved them. He believed in placing intelligence in context by elevating grit, persistence and social skills in his formula for success. He encouraged positive thinking and confidence. Bernie's patience was legendary. He could sit on a bench for what seemed like an eternity, observing humankind. As his memory and his ability to walk started to falter, he became a jigsaw puzzle-solver extraordinaire, drawing on that patience to fill in the most difficult parts of the puzzle while letting family relish its completion by installing the final, easier pieces.

Evelyn grew up in California and her Italian family met her fiancé in person just days before the wedding. Bernie was warmly embraced, an act of faith he never forgot. After Bernie was married, he was finishing his Ph.D. dissertation and had only enough pocket money on his first anniversary to buy Evelyn a single rose. Once he could afford it, he made sure a dozen long-stemmed roses were delivered to the love of his life on every anniversary and birthday.

Bernie also is survived by his brother, Robert O'Brien (Arlene) and his brother-in-law Paul Villa (Barbara). He is preceded in death by his sister, Winifred Rome.

Bernie always gave back even after leaving the Boston area. In lieu of flowers, please continue to be kind to your loved ones and yourself. Bernie's desire had always been to help those around him be well and thrive.

Make a Donation
in BERNARD O'BRIEN's name

How to support BERNARD's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor BERNARD O'BRIEN's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more

Sign BERNARD O'BRIEN's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?