Thomas Michael O'Brien

Thomas Michael O'Brien
December 23, 1948-December 23,2024, of heart disease.
Tom was predeceased by his parents, Charles and Betty O'Brien and nephew Thomas Harrigan.
Tom will be deeply missed by his wife, Stephanie Summers, siblings Patrick (Jean) O'Brien, Wiiliam (Kathy) O'Brien, Mary Drury (Richard), Kathleen O'Brien and John O'Brien, cousins John and Sandy Harrigan plus many nieces, nephews and cousins. Tom lived the first half of his life in the Chicago area and was educated in parochial schools. He held two degrees from the University of Illinois at Chicago and another master's degree from St. Thomas University. His working life was spent in software engineering with a number of companies including West Publishing and American Express. Although he enjoyed writing code, his true calling was joining in the many struggles for social justice in his lifetime. He began protesting from his early teen years with the civil rights movement. He participated in the 1963 March on Washington and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Chicago. Continuing to the present he was active in many movements including treaty rights, LBGTQ rights, war protests from Vietnam to the present, women's reproductive rights and many others. Tom will be always remembered as glad to share his breadth of knowledge. ("Don't Google it, Tom it !") He loved music of all kinds and attended many concerts in the area. Tom got much pleasure from playing the nyckelharpa with the Twin Cities Nyckelharpa Lag. And he loved his cats! He shared his life with eight kitties-at different times-giving them love and appreciation for their varied personalities. Spiritually, Tom found a home in the practice of Zen at Clouds in Water Zen Center. Later in life Tom received treatment for lymphoma which slowed him physically though his support for his causes remained strong. His last months were spent recovering from two surgeries. Stephanie and the family wish to express their gratitude to his many health care providers, especially to Dr. Mark Wilkowske, his oncologist, and Dr. Mark Seaburg, his primary care provider. Also, thanks to Julianne of Frist Light Home Care. Special thanks to the comfort care team at United Hospital. Deep gratitude to Brian and Jean Lynch and Kirby Johnson and Claudia Danielson for their kind practical and emotional support during Tom's last months. A Memorial Service will be held Wednesday January 22, 11 AM at the Clouds in Water Zen Center, 445 Farrington St., St. Paul. Suggested memorials to Doctors Without Borders and Halie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul.
You may view the services via zoom.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86822859840?pwd=EQNbhZnHsyMiHGUcERiBPLL4KqtrI0.1
Meeting ID: 868 2285 9840
Passcode: 347534
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