John Kevin O’Brien

1928 – 2023

John Kevin O’Brien, known mostly as Kevin, to numerous as John, to a few as Jack and to his family as Daddio or Papa, passed away on March 15, 2023 after succumbing to COVID-19. At the time of his death he was residing in the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough, ME.

JKOB was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 20, 1928 to James and Ellen (Nellie) O’Brien of Ballymena, Northern Ireland and Wilmington, Delaware, respectively. He was the third of six children and lived on Pine Street in Philadelphia through his formative years.

After graduating from West Catholic High School, Philadelphia, in 1946, JKOB enlisted in the US Army. He served as Sargeant in the 8th Cavalry in Japan as World War II ended, managing the PX (postal exchange) store on a military base in Tokyo. He frequently reminisced about this exciting adventure that fostered a life-long-love of WWII movies and documentaries with “no romance, just action and facts.”

After his military service he took advantage of the GI Bill and attended The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania from 1948 to 1952. He was the student leader of the Newman Center, a Catholic community based on campus.

After graduating from UPenn, he started his life insurance/pension planning career at Provident Mutual, Bankers Life Company and then with Modern America. A few years later he embarked on his own business as CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) forming O’Brien Insurance Agency. He was a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table – a trade association focused on encouraging insurance ethics and the sharing of ideas.

In 1951, JKOB met Anne Jocelyn “Jockie” Crowhurst on a blind date and they married on November 21, 1953. They went on to have four children, John Kevin O’Brien Jr, Donna Marie (O’Brien) Pelletier, Thomas Mark O’Brien, and Kevin Sean O’Brien. The family left their home in Drexel Hill, PA, in 1963 moving to West Acton, MA, before settling in Scituate, MA, in 1965. He read that Scituate was referred to as the “Irish Riviera” by Yankee magazine and that was all the impetus he needed to move there for the next 50+ years.

He taught CCD for over 35 years and was a regular lector for Sunday Mass and throughout Lent at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church in Scituate until it closed and then at St. Anthony’s in Cohasset, MA. He served many years including as Grand Knight at Knights of Columbus Council 3716 in Scituate, passing along his knowledge and experience.

He was a constantly entertaining, thoughtful and delightful husband, father, business associate, friend to many and ultimately grandfather to 8 and great-grandfather to 13. His effervescent smile would light up every room, his laissez-faire approach to life put everyone at ease and his quick wit kept everyone chuckling along with him – even before the punchline. We will all miss him so very much.

JKOB was predeceased by his son Thomas in 2012 and wife Jockie in 2013 and his siblings James O’Brien, George O’Brien and Helen (O’Brien) Mastrocola. He is survived by his brothers Robert and Faith O’Brien of Dunnellon, FL and Hugh and Corita O’Brien of Manassas, VA.

He is survived by his children John Kevin O’Brien Jr. of Freeport, ME, Donna (O’Brien) and Stephen Pelletier of Rockport, ME, and Kevin Sean O’Brien of North Palm Beach, FL.

He is survived by his grandchildren Stephen and Laura Pelletier of Lake Oswego, OR; Scott and Julie Pelletier of Cape Elizabeth, ME; Shannon (Pelletier) and Mathew Herring of Camden, ME; Megan (Pelletier) and Seán Diffley of Scarborough, ME; Ryan Pelletier and Usha Beaudoin of Durham, ME; Sean O’Brien of Reykjavík, Iceland; Adam O’Brien of Marshfield, MA; and Kristina O’Brien of Middleboro, MA.

He was blessed with 13 great-grandchildren Anna, Kevin, and Owen Pelletier; Ingrid, June and Claire Pelletier; Sylvie and Ryan Herring; Edythe, Róisín, Octave and Patrick Diffley; and Ruby Pelletier.

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We are having a Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 20 (which would have been his 95th birthday) at Maine Craft Distilling, 123 Washington Ave., Portland, ME from 10 am to noon. We’ll be sharing interesting stories and wonderful memories. Special brunch menu and drinks will be served.

There will be a Funeral Mass on Tuesday, May 23 at 10:30 am at St. Mary of the Nativity, 1 Kent St., Scituate, MA followed at 12 pm with Veteran’s burial at Cudworth Cemetery in Scituate with ashes of John Kevin O’Brien and Anne Jocelyn O’Brien. Lunch to follow at Hibernian Tavern, 111 Front St., Scituate, MA.

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