WORCESTER
Rev. George L. O’Brien, 78, passed away peacefully at St. Vincent Hospital on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 after a short illness. He was born on October 13, 1932 in Worcester, the son of George and Ruth (McNamara) O ‘Brien. He graduated from St. John’s High School and attended Holy Cross College. He then entered the Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo in Philadelphia, PA and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John J. Wright on May 15, 1958 at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Fr. George served as associate pastor in five parishes of the diocese: St. Mary’s, Grafton, 1958; St. Augustine, Millville, 1959; St. Leo’s, Leominster, 1960-65; St. Joseph, Auburn, 1965-69; and Our Lady of Good Counsel, W. Boylston, 1969-73. In 1971 he was awarded the Pro Deo et Juventute Medal by the National Catholic Youth Association in recognition of his outstanding work with youth.
In 1973 he was appointed to the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal and in 1976 he became Director of Development at the College of the Holy Cross where he remained until 1994. During his years at Holy Cross he also assisted the campus chaplain especially in working with the college sports teams. The women’s basketball winter homecoming MVP trophy was named in his honor. He also was awarded the Matthew P. Cavanaugh medal for Outstanding Class Chairman, the In Hoc Signo award from H.C. alumni and twice named Crusader of the Year by the Holy Cross Club of Worcester. To benefit a scholarship fund he began a raffle which ultimately was named the “Father George O’Brien Raffle.”
Through the years he has served as Trustee at Notre Dame Academy and St. John’s High School. He was a member of the Canon Law Society of America and chaplain of the Alhambra Council, Knights of Columbus and past president of the Vatican Philatelic Society
In 1994 he was appointed pastor of Holy Cross Parish in E. Templeton retiring to Cape Cod in 2006. He remained active assisting at St. Pius X Parish in S. Yarmouth and served on the school boards of St. Pius Elementary School and Pope John Paul II High School in Hyannis.
Fr. George leaves an aunt Gertrude Gibbons of Worcester, and several cousins in the Gibbons, O’Brien, Laporte, McNamara and Carmody families, including Carlton Laporte of Boston, Mary (O'Brien) Spokis and her husband Richard of Worcester and Kevin O'Brien and his wife Mary in Florida. He also leaves many close friends in the many parishes where he served but especially Ms. Jean Grady and the O’Donnell and Buckley families of Leominster.
Fr. O’Brien will lie in state during visiting hours at St. Leo’s Church, 128 Main Street, Leominster from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday, February 20 followed by a wake service. Bishop Robert J. McManus will celebrate the funeral Mass at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 21. Burial will take place at St. John’s Cemetery in Clinton. CALLAHAN & FAY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME in Worcester is directing arrangements. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Clergy Benefit Plan, P.O.Box 498, N. Uxbridge, MA 01538 or the Scholarship Fund, Pope John Paul II High School, 120 High School Rd., Hyannis, MA 02601-4540. To place an online condolence please visit www.callahanfay.com