Richard William O'Brien

Richard William O’Brien
November 21, 1938 - April 4, 2023

Richard W. O’Brien, age 84, passed away peacefully at home on Monday April 4, 2023 after a well-lived life.  Richy had a love of his family, his country and all things Irish. Born in Elizabeth, Richy was a graduate of Holy Rosary elementary school and Edison High School, and was proud to call himself one of the “Fulton Street Boys”.  He was a US Army veteran, and a telephone man by trade, retiring from Bell Atlantic/Verizon after 42 years. “Mr. Fix-It” to his family and friends, he was always at his work bench or wearing a toolbelt and ready to help with any repair. 

Richy is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Mary (Malley)O’Brien. Richy and Mary did everything together, taking many trips to Ireland, Alaska, the US National parks, and Cape May. Over the years, Richy and Mary shared countless laughs and good times with their friends from the Knights of Columbus Council #253 and the Joseph Nugent Sr. Association.  Richy washonored to be Nugent’s Irishman of the Year in 2007.

Richy’s legacy will live on through his adoring family. He is survived by his three children who will forever remember him as a loving father and role model: Richard S. O’Brien of Rumson, N.J.; Marykate and Brian Vaughn of Cranford, N.J.; and Tara and Mark Freshwater of Basking Ridge, N.J.   A family man through and through, Richy loved spending time with his eight grandchildren, Owen, Colleen, Conor, Ricky, Julia, Jack, Abby and James.   

Richy was the fourth of five sons of the late Mary (Trimble) and Edwin O’Brien. He treasured time spent with his brothers and is survived by his brothers Jim and Kevin and predeceased by brothers Edwin and John. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Richy enjoyed 61 years of annual O’BrienFamily Father/Son trips to the Jersey Shore, playing pinochle and horse shoes, eating crabs and storytelling.  He was proud of his Irish heritage and was a dedicated researcher of his Pennsylvania coal mining history and O’Brien genealogy.   

A passionate gardener, Richy took great pride in his home of 55 years in Roselle, N.J.  Along with Mary, he enjoyed hosting many parties and picnics including an annual St. Patrick’s Day open house.  Holiday decorating was a special joy, with his Dickens Village display of over 50 house creating Christmas magic every year.  

Heaven for Richy will include reuniting with predeceased family and friends, enjoying a cold beer, Yankee baseball, and Irish music while waiting with unending love in the glory of Goduntil we meet again.  

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Richard’s memory to Paralyzed Veterans of America (pva.org)