Ruth R. O'Brien

O'Brien, Ruth Reardon of Brookline passed away peacefully on December 12th, 2024, at age 92. Beloved wife of sixty-six years to Thomas Francis O'Brien, M.D., who passed away on December 9th, 2024. Loving mother of Neal O'Brien of Brookline, MA, Luke O'Brien and his wife Ilse (Martin) O'Brien of Holliston, MA, Conan O'Brien and his wife Liza Powel O'Brien of Los Angeles, CA, Kate O'Brien of Boston, MA, Jane O'Brien of San Anselmo, CA, and Justin O'Brien and his wife Joanna Shea O'Brien of Winchester, MA. Devoted grandmother to her nine grandchildren, Neve, Beckett, Paget, Eamonn, Declan, Grace, Irene, Finn, and Caitlin. She is also survived by fifteen nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents James Francis Reardon and Ruth (Powers) Reardon, as well as her brothers Edward Powers Reardon and James Gavin Reardon.
Ruth was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. She was a graduate of South High School, Worcester, MA (1949), Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY (1953), and Yale Law School, New Haven, CT (1956). She was one of only four women in her law school class and was elected vice president of the student government.
Ruth was a law clerk to The Honorable Raymond Wilkins, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (1956-57), and a real estate attorney at the law firm Ropes & Gray in Boston (1957-58 and 1971-96). In 1978, she became the second woman to be a partner at the firm. She was a resident of Brookline since 1963.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 18th at 11:00 in St. Lawrence Church, 774 Boylston St., (Route 9 East) Chestnut Hill. Visiting hours will be held in the church on Tuesday, December 17th from 3:00 – 7:00. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Interment will follow in Walnut Hills Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Ruth Reardon O'Brien, Class of 1953, to Vassar College, Office of Advancement,161 College Avenue, Box 14, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603.