John O'Brien

John Patrick O’Brien of Nyack, N. Y. (Formerly of Brooklyn, N. Y.) passed away in his sleep on May 3rd . John was born on March 27th, 1921 in New York City to Mary Lee O’Brien and Patrick Francis O’Brien. John was 96 years old at the time of his death. John attended St. Catherine of Genoa Grammar School and Boys High School, both in Brooklyn, New York. He joined the US Navy in 1942 and served on the aircraft carriers, USS Shangri-La and USS Ranger until his honorable discharge in 1945. He was and continued to be a proud WW 2 Veteran during his entire life. While serving in the Navy, John was accepted in the New York City Police Dept. Upon discharge from the military, he joined the NYPD where he served for over 20 years, attaining the rank of Detective and retiring as a Sergeant. John also raised two children as a single parent during a time when this certainly was not the norm. After retirement, not letting grass grow under his feet, he went into private industry, real estate and even became a race horse owner whose horses ran at major race tracks across NYS, such as Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct among others. John was never happier than when he was attending a Police Ceremony involving his son, Patrick Francis, a Lieutenant in the United States Park Police and his grandson, John Patrick, a Sergeant in the Montgomery Co., Maryland Police Dept. He was equally proud and involved in the lives of his daughter, Eileen Mary, a retired Psychologist 2 at The Rockland Psychiatric Center and his granddaughter Erin Elizabeth who has followed in the family legacy of law enforcement as an Investigator. Another high point in John’s life was the birth of his two great grandsons, Patrick Thomas and Thomas Robert, who he predicted would definitely become Police Commissioners. John was predeceased by his sister, Sarah Anne O’Brien and his brothers Francis Edward, William Stephen and Peter Joseph and former wife and mother of his two children, Eileen Griffin O’Brien. He is survived by his daughter, Eileen M. O’Brien-Cardona and son-in-law, Jose A.Cardona of West Nyack, his son, Patrick F. O’Brien and daughter-in-law Mary M. O’Brien of Gambrills, Maryland, grandson John P. O’Brien and his wife, Shawn M. O’Brien and great grandsons Patrick Thomas and Thomas Robert O’Brien, of Potomac, Maryland and granddaughter, Erin Elizabeth O’Brien, of Baltimore, Maryland as well as many loving nephews, nieces their spouses and their children from Long Island. The O’Brien Family would like to thank all those folks who helped John in his journey during his final years. Special thanks to the devoted and wonderful staff and all his friends at the Tappan Zee Manor Assisted Living Facility in Nyack, the caring staff at Helen Hayes Rehab in Suffern, and dedicated staff at Bon Secours Hospital in Suffern. Family would also like to thank the Clarkstown Police Dept and Paramedics for their assistance at the time of our father’s death. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4PM and 7 to 9PM on Monday, May 8th at Hannemann Funeral Home, 88 South Broadway, Nyack, N.Y. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, May 9th at 10 AM at St. Ann’s Church RC in Nyack followed by interment at the Calverton National Cemetery in Wading River, N. Y. 11792. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for memorial donations to the National Alliance on Mental Illness Rockland Chapter, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Bldg 57, First Floor, Orangeburg, and N. Y. 10962 or The Central Nyack Fire Dept. 46 Waldron Avenue, Nyack, N. Y. 10960.