Brendan J. O'Brien

Brendan was born in Athol, Massachusetts, but spent his formative growing up years in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The youngest of six children, Brendan graduated high school from Cambridge Latin School, and then headed off to Purdue University in 1959. It was at Purdue where Brendan formed extremely special and lifelong bonds with his Beta Theta Pi fraternity brothers, and most importantly fell in love with Constance ‘Connie’ Deming. Everyone appreciated Brendan’s dry sense of humor and quick wit. Brendan and Connie got married the year of their graduation in 1963 in Connie’s hometown of Washington, DC.

They first lived in Washington, DC, and then moved to Pittsburgh, PA where they called home for more than 30 years. Brendan initially worked for Crucible Steel. Over the years in Pittsburgh, Brendan and Connie became devout Pittsburgh Steelers fans, and were season ticket holders for many years, enjoying boisterous Sundays cheering them on.

Brendan was in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for many years, received an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, and was also an active Rotarian over the years.

Also, in Pittsburgh is where Brendan and Connie decided to add their first Basset Hound to their family. For all the years afterwards, this was the only dog breed they ever had, and each one from Blarney to Seamus to Calvin and then to Ollie was fully loved by, and they fully loved Brendan over the years.

After time at Crucible Steel and in banking, in the mid-80s Brendan became an entrepreneur and business owner, opening a florist business called Flowerama. This was a successful and thriving local business in Ross Township, Pennsylvania.

Upon retirement, Brendan and Connie moved to Venice, Florida in 2006. From here Brendan was able to set off with Connie to do some traveling, and he was also able to spend more time on his golf game, and to do extensive research on WWII, and the time his oldest brother John spent in the Army. He also had a very special bond with his brother Kevin and continued to keep up with old friends from his teen and college years through reunions and visits around the country. In Venice, neighbors became friends, and he also took an active role in their community of Chestnut Creek, serving on the board for many years.

A proud New Englander, Brendan made sure that he and Connie made frequent trips to Maine and Massachusetts to spend wonderful vacations and make special memories with family and friends. They made a lifelong attachment to the area of Sebasco, Maine. There wasn’t a boiled lobster safe when Brendan was in the area!

Brendan is survived by his wife of 61 years, Connie, and his sister Deirdre Williams of New York, New York as well as his brothers and sisters-in-law, Kenneth and Deborah Deming, and Nancy and Peter Zinkovitch. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews who will miss him dearly. He was predeceased by his parents, Eleanor C. and John W. O’Brien and his siblings John R. O'Brien, Anne O'Brien Desrosier, MaryPat O'Brien Mulcare and Kevin S. O’Brien. 

A private graveside service with family will take place on Wednesday, September 4th at Venice Memorial Gardens and a future date is to be set for a remembrance event.