Obituary of Donald Carr O'Brien

Donald, “Don,” “OB,” “Mr. O,” Carr O’Brien of Auburn Hills, Michigan died on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 11:50 p.m. in Simi Valley, California after a short battle with lung cancer. His wife of 55 years, Mary Catherine Marcero O’Brien, daughter Kathleen Marie O’Brien Rasmussen, son-in-law C. Dean Rasmussen, granddaughter Erin Mary Mann, and future grandson-in-law H. David Urbina were at his side. Born on January 19, 1938 in Attleboro, Massachusetts, Donald is the third child of Frances Veronica Carr O’Brien and Jerome Edward O’Brien and brother of Joan O’Brien Silvia of Attleboro, MA; Alan Edward O’Brien (deceased), Jerome Edward O’Brien of Cape Cod, MA; and Francis Joseph O’Brien of New Hampshire. Don graduated from Coyle High School in 1957. A handsome young man, recently honorably discharged in 1959 from the U.S. Army where he had served in Germany, Don met Mary Catherine Marcero in Pasadena, California where he worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and they were married soon afterward on September 30, 1960 at St. Phillips Catholic Church. In 1964, they moved to Pontiac, Michigan, to be near her family. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Oakland University and a Master’s degree from Wayne State University. Don loved History, prints, books and education. He taught for 30 years in the Waterford School District and retired from Pierce Junior High School. Afterward, he taught History for a short time at Oakland Community College. A member of the American Antiquarian Society and a past president of the American Historical Print Collectors Society, Don was the author of the books: Amos Doolittle: Engraver of the New Republic (published in 2008); The Engraving Trade in Early Cincinnati (published in 2012); and Sweet Elsie: A Brief History of the L.C. Smith Shotgun (co-authored with his son-in-law C. Dean Rasmussen); as well as many articles for the journal of the American Historical Print Collectors Society and numerous other publications. Don’s favorite place in the world was Tobermory, Ontario, Canada where he and Mary have had a cottage for over 40 years and where they enjoyed walking along the Bruce Peninsula Escarpment, Dorcas Bay Road and Larry’s Lake and where they enjoyed the best of times with many cherished friends. A loving father and grandfather, Don is survived by his other children Mary Ellen O’Brien (Thomas) Williams of Golden, Colorado and Joseph Edward (Alicia Lall) O’Brien of Marietta, Georgia; as well as grandchildren Jeremy Pritchard Mann; Ella Marie Williams, Ashley Brittany Lall O’Brien, Andrew Joseph O’Brien, Adam Jacob O’Brien, Aidan Joseph O’Brien and Alex Jude O’Brien. The Catholic Rosary and Wake will be held on Thursday, February 5th from 5 pm. to 9 p.m. at the Rasmussen’s home in Agoura Hills. A full Mass and Burial will follow in Michigan with his final interment at Mt. Hope Catholic Cemetary in Pontiac, Michigan where he will join other members of the Marcero Family. Contributions can be made in his memory to the American Historical Print Collector’s Society http://www.ahpcs.org/ and the American Antiquarian Society http://www.americanantiquarian.org/.