G. Robert "Bob" O'Brien

1936 - 2022

Niantic - G. Robert "Bob" O'Brien, 86, passed away peacefully Dec. 26, 2022. Bob lived a full and exciting life both professionally and personally, and will be greatly missed by family and friends. Bob was born in Hartford, to George and Gertrude (Marenholtz) O'Brien Nov. 4, 1936.

He grew up on Cornwall Street in the North End and attended St. Joseph's Cathedral School on Asylum Avenue before heading to Weaver High School where he graduated in 1954. He spent summers working in the tobacco fields, and during the school year, worked at Kennedy's Clothier's. Following his high school graduation, he attended the University of Connecticut for two years prior to joining the U.S. Army. After two years of service in the Army, he returned home and finished his studies at University of Connecticut where he was recognized as a distinguished scholar. The Army had a tremendous impact on Bob; he often commented on how his grades "greatly improved" following his two years of service. In 1993, Bob would be inducted into the inaugural class of the UConn Business School Hall of Fame. It was also during his senior year in college that he married his high school sweetheart, Mary (Murray) O'Brien. After he began working full time, he would return to school, attending the University of Hartford at night where he would obtain his master's in business. Following his graduation from UConn, he began working at CIGNA (then Connecticut General Insurance Company) where he would spend the next 33 years of his career. Bob was the first employee to earn a chartered property casualty underwriter (CPCU) designation. Bob started in the accounting division in 1960, and retired in 1993 as the executive vice president of CIGNA Corp. and president of CIGNA employee benefits company. Bob loved his work and thoroughly enjoyed the people he worked with and the challenges they faced over the years. One initiative he led that proved personally rewarding and professionally very successful was a program to recruit and hire persons with disabilities. Upon retiring from CIGNA, he became the president and CEO of Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New York.

In addition to his career Bob was committed to giving back, most of which was focused on the City of Hartford. He served as chairman of the board of trustees for the University of Hartford from 1993 to 1998. The highlight of his time there was being able to present his son, Michael, who graduated with a B.A in education, with his diploma. Bob served on the board of the Hartford Chamber of Commerce and later as the chairman of the Board of the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA). Bob was also a benefactor of the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford and served as president of their board and was honored to be named a Life Trustee. Bob was a member of the first American Leadership Forum in Hartford where he met many other people committed to helping Hartford, and they became lifelong friends. In the 1990s, Bob served on the board of the Capital City Economic Development Authority (CCEDA) which was focused on the redevelopment of Hartford. He was also involved with Lawrence + Memorial Hospital where he was instrumental in establishing the annual Fishers Island Charity Golf Tournament.

Bob cherished spending his summer vacations at the beach in Niantic, where he could sail, play tennis, golf and gather with family and friends. It was a time and place where he genuinely relaxed. From a young age, he loved the ocean and being "on the water." Bob owned many sailboats over the years and participated in and won several Off Sounding Races. After he retired, he would gather with these summer friends to have coffee and breakfast and they named themselves the "muffin men."

Bob was predeceased by his older sibling Sister Fay O'Brien in 2019; and his grandchild Caroline, who passed away at age 11 in 2010. Bob is survived by his wife Mary; as well as his four children and their spouses: Bob (K.C.), Tom (Tracie), Jim (Julia) and Mike (Jennifer). He also leaves 11 grandchildren: Moira, Katie, Tommy, Kevin, Aidan, Ellen, John, Claire, Emily, Brendan and Abby.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Jan. 5, at Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home, 48 Grand Street, Niantic. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Jan. 6, at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Road, Old Lyme. Live streaming of the service will be available on the Christ the King website https://www.christthekingchurch.net. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford, 170 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT 06105 or online at https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZFWNBUA6LZ5LU; under special instructions, you can add a note in memory of Bob. Online Expressions of sympathy can be made at www.neilanfuneralhome.com.