More detail on this person: Former Kassonite, Thomas D. O'Brien (K-M class of '67) died Wednesday (2/15/17) after a courageous battle against that evil, deadly foe we call cancer. He had returned to Minnesota after living on the East Coast for many years to winter at the O'Brien family lake home with his wife and son when he was diagnosed. Tom was an all-round athlete at K-M and is remembered as a "bigger-than-life" character, with a quick smile and loving heart. After K-M, Tom served in the US Army (1968-71) as a warrant officer and helicopter pilot, including a tour in Viet Nam flying Cobra gunships. Upon discharge, Tom started his college career at Rochester Junior College and completed his B.A. in Economics at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He went on to achieve his MBA at Wake Forest's Babcock Graduate School of Management. Tom built a successful banking career in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area, culminating in his retirement from Fannie Mae last year. In what little spare time he had, Tom continued to enjoy boating with family on the Chesapeake Bay, was an avid fan of his local professional sports teams, and loved to complete the NY Times crossword puzzle (in pen!). Tom is survived by his wife, DeeDee and son, Archer, three brothers (Mike, David, and Sean), three sisters (Pat, Diane and Megan). He has joined pre-deceased family members, including his sister Maureen and parents, Dan and Lola, all formerly of Kasson. There will not be a local memorial service, but a wake is being planned for this summer, when the ice thaws and the loons are swimming in front of our dock at the lake. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Tom's name will be appreciated. He was well loved and asked that we all remember him with a smile.
This information was last updated 06/13/2017
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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