George A. O'Brien
Nov 13, 1933 ~ Dec 7, 2011
A Mass of Christian burial for George A. O'Brien will be held Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Visitation is at the church beginning at 9 a.m.
George died Dec. 7, 2011, from complications due to a fall.
George was born on Nov. 13, 1933, in Aberdeen, S.D., to George and Sylvia (Danielson) O'Brien. The family moved to Melrose in 1938 to run the Melrose Theatre.
George graduated from Melrose High School and St. Thomas College. After serving in the U.S. Army, he worked for theatres in Iowa. While working for Commercial Credit Equipment Corp., he was transferred to Baltimore, where he met and married Barbara Schisler in 1963. They returned to Melrose in 1967 to reopen the Melrose Theatre after his father's death.
Following the theater's closure that same year, George became general manager of the Melrose Catholic Deanery Credit Union (later Melrose Credit Union), and was instrumental in its growth, moving it to a larger building and expanding its membership. He worked for the Melrose Telephone Co. five years. In 1983 he joined the Freeport State Bank and remained there until retirement.
In 1971 he became executive director of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority of the City of Melrose, where he remained involved until his retirement in September 2011. His proudest achievement there was converting Rose View Manor to a smoke-free facility— the first HUD building in the country to do so.
George was mayor of Melrose for two terms, from 1995 through 2002. While mayor he recognized the need for services for the growing Latino community and started a nonprot, Communities Connecting Cultures, to help recent arrivals adjust to their new community and the services they needed to be healthy, educated, content and productive citizens of Melrose.
George was known for his Irish humor, long-winded storytelling and his sense of civic engagement. He could be seen dressed as St. Patrick during the annual St. Patrick's Day parades held by the local Irish minority community. He was involved in restarting Boy Scouts in Melrose. George loved sailing on Birch Lake, scuba diving, taking long walks and riding his scooter around town. He will be dearly missed by all.
Survivors are wife Barbara O'Brien, daughter Kelly O'Brien of Minneapolis, son Kevin (Lois) O'Brien of Lindstrom, grandchildren Matthew and Bridget O'Brien of Lindstrom, sister Kay O'Brien Heinen of St. Cloud, nephews John Heinen of Portland, Ore. and Steven Heinen of Aurora, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Doreen, and brother- in-law Jerry Heinen.
In lieu of owers, the family requests memorial gifts to Communities Connecting Cultures in Melrose or the charity of your choice.
Published in the December 14, 2011 issue of the Melrose Beacon. Page A3.
Nov 13, 1933 ~ Dec 7, 2011
A Mass of Christian burial for George A. O'Brien will be held Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Visitation is at the church beginning at 9 a.m.
George died Dec. 7, 2011, from complications due to a fall.
George was born on Nov. 13, 1933, in Aberdeen, S.D., to George and Sylvia (Danielson) O'Brien. The family moved to Melrose in 1938 to run the Melrose Theatre.
George graduated from Melrose High School and St. Thomas College. After serving in the U.S. Army, he worked for theatres in Iowa. While working for Commercial Credit Equipment Corp., he was transferred to Baltimore, where he met and married Barbara Schisler in 1963. They returned to Melrose in 1967 to reopen the Melrose Theatre after his father's death.
Following the theater's closure that same year, George became general manager of the Melrose Catholic Deanery Credit Union (later Melrose Credit Union), and was instrumental in its growth, moving it to a larger building and expanding its membership. He worked for the Melrose Telephone Co. five years. In 1983 he joined the Freeport State Bank and remained there until retirement.
In 1971 he became executive director of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority of the City of Melrose, where he remained involved until his retirement in September 2011. His proudest achievement there was converting Rose View Manor to a smoke-free facility— the first HUD building in the country to do so.
George was mayor of Melrose for two terms, from 1995 through 2002. While mayor he recognized the need for services for the growing Latino community and started a nonprot, Communities Connecting Cultures, to help recent arrivals adjust to their new community and the services they needed to be healthy, educated, content and productive citizens of Melrose.
George was known for his Irish humor, long-winded storytelling and his sense of civic engagement. He could be seen dressed as St. Patrick during the annual St. Patrick's Day parades held by the local Irish minority community. He was involved in restarting Boy Scouts in Melrose. George loved sailing on Birch Lake, scuba diving, taking long walks and riding his scooter around town. He will be dearly missed by all.
Survivors are wife Barbara O'Brien, daughter Kelly O'Brien of Minneapolis, son Kevin (Lois) O'Brien of Lindstrom, grandchildren Matthew and Bridget O'Brien of Lindstrom, sister Kay O'Brien Heinen of St. Cloud, nephews John Heinen of Portland, Ore. and Steven Heinen of Aurora, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Doreen, and brother- in-law Jerry Heinen.
In lieu of owers, the family requests memorial gifts to Communities Connecting Cultures in Melrose or the charity of your choice.
Published in the December 14, 2011 issue of the Melrose Beacon. Page A3.
George A. O'Brien
Nov 13, 1933 ~ Dec 7, 2011
A Mass of Christian burial for George A. O'Brien will be held Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Visitation is at the church beginning at 9 a.m.
George died Dec. 7, 2011, from complications due to a fall.
George was born on Nov. 13, 1933, in Aberdeen, S.D., to George and Sylvia (Danielson) O'Brien. The family moved to Melrose in 1938 to run the Melrose Theatre.
George graduated from Melrose High School and St. Thomas College. After serving in the U.S. Army, he worked for theatres in Iowa. While working for Commercial Credit Equipment Corp., he was transferred to Baltimore, where he met and married Barbara Schisler in 1963. They returned to Melrose in 1967 to reopen the Melrose Theatre after his father's death.
Following the theater's closure that same year, George became general manager of the Melrose Catholic Deanery Credit Union (later Melrose Credit Union), and was instrumental in its growth, moving it to a larger building and expanding its membership. He worked for the Melrose Telephone Co. five years. In 1983 he joined the Freeport State Bank and remained there until retirement.
In 1971 he became executive director of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority of the City of Melrose, where he remained involved until his retirement in September 2011. His proudest achievement there was converting Rose View Manor to a smoke-free facility— the first HUD building in the country to do so.
George was mayor of Melrose for two terms, from 1995 through 2002. While mayor he recognized the need for services for the growing Latino community and started a nonprot, Communities Connecting Cultures, to help recent arrivals adjust to their new community and the services they needed to be healthy, educated, content and productive citizens of Melrose.
George was known for his Irish humor, long-winded storytelling and his sense of civic engagement. He could be seen dressed as St. Patrick during the annual St. Patrick's Day parades held by the local Irish minority community. He was involved in restarting Boy Scouts in Melrose. George loved sailing on Birch Lake, scuba diving, taking long walks and riding his scooter around town. He will be dearly missed by all.
Survivors are wife Barbara O'Brien, daughter Kelly O'Brien of Minneapolis, son Kevin (Lois) O'Brien of Lindstrom, grandchildren Matthew and Bridget O'Brien of Lindstrom, sister Kay O'Brien Heinen of St. Cloud, nephews John Heinen of Portland, Ore. and Steven Heinen of Aurora, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Doreen, and brother- in-law Jerry Heinen.
In lieu of owers, the family requests memorial gifts to Communities Connecting Cultures in Melrose or the charity of your choice.
Published in the December 14, 2011 issue of the Melrose Beacon. Page A3.
Nov 13, 1933 ~ Dec 7, 2011
A Mass of Christian burial for George A. O'Brien will be held Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Visitation is at the church beginning at 9 a.m.
George died Dec. 7, 2011, from complications due to a fall.
George was born on Nov. 13, 1933, in Aberdeen, S.D., to George and Sylvia (Danielson) O'Brien. The family moved to Melrose in 1938 to run the Melrose Theatre.
George graduated from Melrose High School and St. Thomas College. After serving in the U.S. Army, he worked for theatres in Iowa. While working for Commercial Credit Equipment Corp., he was transferred to Baltimore, where he met and married Barbara Schisler in 1963. They returned to Melrose in 1967 to reopen the Melrose Theatre after his father's death.
Following the theater's closure that same year, George became general manager of the Melrose Catholic Deanery Credit Union (later Melrose Credit Union), and was instrumental in its growth, moving it to a larger building and expanding its membership. He worked for the Melrose Telephone Co. five years. In 1983 he joined the Freeport State Bank and remained there until retirement.
In 1971 he became executive director of the Housing & Redevelopment Authority of the City of Melrose, where he remained involved until his retirement in September 2011. His proudest achievement there was converting Rose View Manor to a smoke-free facility— the first HUD building in the country to do so.
George was mayor of Melrose for two terms, from 1995 through 2002. While mayor he recognized the need for services for the growing Latino community and started a nonprot, Communities Connecting Cultures, to help recent arrivals adjust to their new community and the services they needed to be healthy, educated, content and productive citizens of Melrose.
George was known for his Irish humor, long-winded storytelling and his sense of civic engagement. He could be seen dressed as St. Patrick during the annual St. Patrick's Day parades held by the local Irish minority community. He was involved in restarting Boy Scouts in Melrose. George loved sailing on Birch Lake, scuba diving, taking long walks and riding his scooter around town. He will be dearly missed by all.
Survivors are wife Barbara O'Brien, daughter Kelly O'Brien of Minneapolis, son Kevin (Lois) O'Brien of Lindstrom, grandchildren Matthew and Bridget O'Brien of Lindstrom, sister Kay O'Brien Heinen of St. Cloud, nephews John Heinen of Portland, Ore. and Steven Heinen of Aurora, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Doreen, and brother- in-law Jerry Heinen.
In lieu of owers, the family requests memorial gifts to Communities Connecting Cultures in Melrose or the charity of your choice.
Published in the December 14, 2011 issue of the Melrose Beacon. Page A3.
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