Dr. Richard O'Brien

1934 - 2022

O'Brien, Dr. Richard

1934 - 2022

Dr. Richard O'Brien died on May 21, 2022. Born in Shenandoah, IA in 1934, Richard graduated from Shenandoah High School (1952) and from Creighton University School of Medicine (1960).

Tireless in his profession, Richard contributed substantially to the fields of cancer research and medical ethics. From 1966-1982, he served as a professor and administrator at the University of Southern California. Returning to Creighton University in 1982, he served as Dean of the School of Medicine, Vice President of Health Sciences and finally as founder of and professor at the Center for Health Policy and Ethics.

But work constitutes only part of a life, and Richard found pleasure in his family time as well. He and his wife Joan raised four children in a family whose ethic was to ask and offer the best of one another, in a household where laughter was the norm. Because he was a doctor (and she a nurse), no subject was too gross for the dinner table. Weekends and summers were spent camping, hiking, backpacking, and fishing as well as attending the occasional symphony or opera. Even though he was "the dad" and worked crazy hours, he made a point of devoting time to his daughters and his sons separately, so everyone felt special.

At the end of his long, productive life, Richard leaves Joan, his wife of 65 years; his four children; five grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, friends; and countless colleagues and medical students whose lives he touched.

According to Richard and Joan's wishes, a joint memorial service will be held upon Joan's passing.