Richard John O'Brien

O'Brien, Richard John (Dick)
July 8, 1936- August 26, 2025

Dick O'Brien died peacefully at his home in West Springfield, Virginia on Tuesday, August 26th after a brief illness. He was 89 years old. He was born Richard John O'Brien in Boston, Massachusetts to Katherine (Donovan) O'Brien and James L. O'Brien. Dick had a great love of life, family, neighbors, community, sports, and his parish, Nativity Parish of Burke, Virginia and the Operation Starfish mission in Haiti. He was a great storyteller and loved Ireland and Irish music.

He also had unfailing loyalty and dedication to his alma mater, Boston College. He enjoyed his role as patriarch of a large Irish American family. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Mary Jo (McAvinn) O'Brien and loving children and grandchildren: Richard and wife Jenny (Dempsey) O'Brien, and their children Matthew, Jack, Joseph and Molly. His daughter Anne O'Brien, his daughter Kathy (O'Brien) Creston and husband Don Creston, and their children Kelly and Ryan, his son Tom O'Brien and wife Amy (Jones) O'Brien and their daughters Madeline, Bridget, and Tara, his son Bob O'Brien and wife Amy (Shearman) O'Brien and their children Brendan, Colleen, Megan and Sean. He is also survived by his sister Sally (O'Brien) Best of Roslindale, MA and sister-in-law, Pat (Hurley) McAvinn. He will be missed by his many nieces and nephews and their spouses and families: Jim O'Brien, Pat O'Brien, John O'Brien, Ellen Cleary, Peter O'Brien, and Kevin O'Brien, John (Jeff) Best, Brian Best, Helen Best, Jeanne Best Norton, Carol (Best) Dolan, and Christine (Best) Walker, Paul Twitchell, Kathy Twitchell, Nancy (Twitchell) Murphy, and Kevin Twitchell, Amy (McAvinn) Killion, Peter McAvinn, Stephen McAvinn, Ed McAvinn and John McAvinn, Maura McAvinn, Kathleen (McAvinn) Drennan, Tricia (McAvinn) Krzywicki. He was predeceased by siblings, James G. O'Brien and Eunice Twitchell, brothers-in-law: John Best, Paul Twitchell, David McAvinn and John McAvinn, sisters-in-law: Elaine (Isaac) O'Brien and Judy (White) McAvinn, and by niece Katherine M. O'Brien and nephews David McAvinn and John (Jack) McAvinn.

Dick grew up in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. He attended English High School in Boston, MA and played hockey, football and golf. Dick shared that one of his first summer jobs running a caddy camp in Lake Sunapee, NH taught him the skill of community planning. He graduated from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science in 1958 and received his Master of Science in Social Work, with a concentration in community planning and organization, from the Boston College School of Social Work in 1960.

He was very active in Boston College Alumni Clubs in: Connecticut; Worcester, MA; Cincinnati, OH; Chicago, IL; and Washington, DC. In 1982, he received the highest award bestowed on a BC alumnus when he was honored with the William V. McKenney Award for his contributions of leadership and loyalty to the University and to the Alumni Association. He was a past president of the BC Alumni Board. It must be noted that he experienced great joy watching the BC football team win throughout the 1981-1984 football seasons (the "Flutie years") and he celebrated with family and friends at the Liberty Bowl and the Cotton Bowl during those winning seasons.

For his military service, he joined the Air National Guard in Massachusetts and served as a member of the 102nd Tactical Fighter Group in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Dick had a very full career and received honors and awards too numerous to list. After receiving his Masters Degree in Social Work, he started out as the Assistant Executive for the Community Chest and Executive Secretary of the Greater New Britain (CT) Community Council, next as the Associate Executive Secretary and Planning Director of the Community Chest in Worcester, MA, and moving to Cincinnati, OH where he became the Director of the United Way Planning Council of the Cincinnati Area. He moved to Chicago, IL to assume the position of the Mid-West Regional Director of the United Way of America and was responsible for states from Ohio in the east to North and South Dakota in the west, and down south to Texas and Arizona. Finally, after 15 years of leading boards, staff, and volunteer leadership groups as a senior executive at the United Way national headquarters in Alexandria, VA, he retired from the United Way as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

In his own words about his career as described in an essay for his eldest grandson Matthew, he said he had, "traveled to all parts of the country to large cities and small towns, met with U.S. presidents, members of congress, CEO's, union leaders, civil rights leaders, 'Hollywood types,' and sports figures." And of the experience he reflected, "Throughout my travels, my greatest joy was to go to a community, large or small, and see how in America, people of all faiths, political parties, rich or poor come together for the greater good of the Community. There are so many wonderful things happening every day across this great country led by people who do not seek fame but want to make this country a better place to live. Seldom do we see stories in the headlines about the thousands of people who 'give' back to others, but they are out there, and I believe they are happier people by their giving of themselves to others."

In his final chapter of full-time work in the not-for-profit sector, Dick moved on to a new career as Senior Vice President for Public Relations in the CEO and Chairman's Office of Mutual of America Life Insurance Company in New York, NY and Washington, DC. He said it was a great experience, especially the opportunity to be a part of the beginning of the peace process in Northern Ireland and to participate in the first peace process conference, "Beyond Hate" in Londonderry, Northern Ireland and spend time with the late John Hume, whom he considered a very courageous man.

In retirement, Dick enjoyed traveling with his wife, Mary Jo, and family, playing golf with a close circle of friends, and supporting the work and missions of the Nativity Parish in Burke, Va. He continued to serve the community, and was on the boards of many organizations, including the Board of Directors of the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), the Board of Governors of Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Virginia and he held a unique secular position in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB's) Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Dick enjoyed life to the fullest, and he will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visiting Hours will be held at the Money and King Funeral Home at 171 Maple Ave. W in Vienna, VA, 22180 on Friday September 5, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. A funeral Mass will be held at Nativity Parish at 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, VA, 22015 on Saturday, September 6, at 11:00 am. Friends and Family welcome. Interment at the Benedictine Monastery in Bristow, Virginia will take place at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Church of Nativity's humanitarian mission in Haiti, Honduras, and Jamaica by sending a check to: Church of the Nativity; 6400 Nativity Lane; Burke, VA 22015; Attention: Operation Starfish or donating online to https://www.osvhub.com/nativityburke/giving/funds