Robert L. O’Brien “Bob”,of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, died on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 after injuries sustained from a recent fall. Bob was born on December 23, 1932 in Lafayette, Indiana to the late Margaret A. and Michael F. O’Brien. He was the second of nine children.
After graduating from Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Bob served his country from 1951 – 1955 as a Staff Sergeant with the United States Air Force. He was appreciative of his time in the service for the friendships he made, and for the opportunity to travel to France, Germany and Northern Africa. Upon leaving the service, Bob returned to Lafayette to raise his family.
He began working at the Alcoa plant as an electrical draftsman. When not working, Bob spent much of his time singing Barbershop music with the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. Cardinal district, for which he later served as President. He is included in the Barbershop Hall of Fame in Cincinnati, Ohio for his years of singing and service.
Bob had a beautiful bass voice and an appreciation for harmony. Bob moved his family to the south hills of Pittsburgh in 1970 when he was transferred by Alcoa. He quickly became a fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams – Steelers, Pirates and Penguins – though never wavered in his devotion to Purdue University athletics.
After retiring from Alcoa in 1985 at the age of 53, Bob continued to provide electrical consulting work for smaller businesses, including Henry F. Teichmann Inc. and Quattro Associates, Inc., working into his late 70s. His mind was a vault of facts, figures and data. Bob was a fighter, and a three-time survivor of colon cancer.
In recent years his greatest happiness was watching sports, wintering at his second home in Sebring, Florida, tending to his Bethel Park lawn on his riding mower, and spending time with his family. Bob is survived by Estelle, his wife of 37 years; his children Mandy (Gary) Petro, Tom O’Brien, and Laura (Rick) Miller; three stepchildren Chuck (Dianne) Picard, Sherry (Bill) Vargo and Debbie (Mike) Shipley; 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his sisters Pat (Bob) Gregoire and Mary Margaret (Joe) Blackwell; his brothers Larry O’Brien, Bill (Sue) O’Brien and Denny (Brenda) O’Brien, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was so proud to be part of the big O’Brien clan and looked forward to the annual O’Brien reunion. In addition to his parents, Bob is preceded in death by his brothers Mike O’Brien, Jim O’Brien and Gary O’Brien, and his cousin Bob Boveri “Bo”, who also was like a brother to him. The family would like to thank Bob’s care team at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, and especially Dr. Christopher Newman for his compassionate advocacy.
The family will welcome visitors on Saturday, October 20, 2018 from 2PM – 7PM at David Henney Funeral Home, 6364 Library Rd (RT 88), South Park, PA (412-835-0616) www.
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