Robert R. O'Brien Jr.

O'BRIEN Robert R. (Bob) O'Brien, Jr., age 63 years, died Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at St. Dominic's Hospital after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a year ago. Bob was born in New Orleans, LA on March 28, 1942, but made his home in Jackson, Mississippi, since 1975. He graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1965 and worked in advertising for over 40 years, beginning at the Times-Picayune in New Orleans. He worked in radio for 23 years, serving first as Office Manager for WSMB in New Orleans, then as Sales Manager for WMOB in Mobile, Alabama. He then served as a sales representative for WDSU in New Orleans. He became General Manager in 1973 at WIXO in New Orleans. Bob then served as General Sales Manager for WGSO/ WQUE in New Orleans. In 1975, he moved to Jackson, MS to serve as General Manager for WWUN; in 1977 he became General Manager/Part Owner at WKXI in Jackson. From 1978 through 1990, he was the General Manager/Part Owner of WKXI/WTYX Radio in Jackson. Since 1991 Bob worked in cable advertising at Love Communications Company of Jackson, now known as Lovecomm Advertising Sales. Bob was President/Part Owner of Lovecomm, active in daily operations until this past weekend, building a company that sells advertising for cable systems throughout Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Even more impressive than Bob's career achievements was his commitment to business and community involvement. He had an amazing compassion for people and was often motivated to get involved. Bob served in many capacities, including as a member of Century Club Charities; Greater Jackson Community Foundation; Mississippi Cable Television Association; Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau; Jackson Country Club; River Hills Country Club; Metro Jackson Chamber of Commerce; Rankin Chamber of Commerce; Madison Chamber of Commerce; Clinton Chamber of Commerce; Mississippi Economic Council; and as a 30-year member of the Popeyes Coffee Club. He was often called to serve in leadership roles, including as a Board member for Louisiana Cable Television Association; Jackson Rotary Club; YMCA of Metropolitan Jackson; Jackson Preparatory School; United Way of the Capitol Area. He was a Past President of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters and the Jackson Association of Broadcasters. Bob won the 1998 Silver Medal Award from the Jackson Advertising Federation (Jackson Ad Club), where he was a 30-year member. He also volunteered for many organizations, including the Barksdale Reading Institute and was a member of St. Richard Catholic Church. In his spare time, Bob enjoyed reading, golfing, traveling and being with his family. He also enjoyed spending time at the office, making sure to cultivate a family atmosphere that included his bulletin boards of snapshots of family, friends, and employees collected over the course of his career. He was a doting father and grandfather, not afraid of getting dirty playing in the park with his grandchildren. The light of Bob's life was his family, and he will be dearly missed by his wife of 38 years, Mary Ann Danna O'Brien of Jackson; his son and daughter-in-law, Danna Albert O'Brien and Julie Virden O'Brien of Jackson; his grandchildren, Charles Virden O'Brien and Katherine Anderson O'Brien of Jackson; his mother, Rita McCarthy O'Brien of New Orleans; his brother and sister-in-law, Thomas P. O'Brien and Susan O'Brien of New Orleans; his sister, Mary Ella O'Brien of Daytona Beach, FL; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mary and Jesse Danna, Sr.; his brother-in-law, Jesse Danna, Jr. and wife Carole of Covington, LA; and several nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his father, Robert R. O'Brien, Sr.; and his brothers, George T. O'Brien and Michael D. O'Brien. Visitation will be held 11:00am-1:00pm on Friday, June 3, 2005, at St. Richard Catholic Church, 1242 Lynwood Drive in Jackson, Mississippi. Services will follow at 1:00pm, also at St. Richard Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Richard Catholic Church 1242 Lynnwood Drive Jackson, MS 39206 or the American Cancer Society 1380 Livingston Lane Jackson, MS 39213. WRIGHT-FERGUSON is handling arrangements.