Norman T. O'Brien

12/24/2006

Norman T. O'Brien, 77, of 315 Upper Valley Road died Sunday evening at Berkshire Medical Center. Born in Pittsfield Aug. 19, 1929, son of Norman B. and Irene Pratt O'Brien, he was educated in Pittsfield and Chester schools and was a 1946 graduate of Chester High School. He served in the Army during World War II and the Korean War. Mr. O'Brien was employed by the General Electric Co. as an assembler in the Power Transformer department, during which time he was also assigned to the Ordnance Systems Division, where he did transmission work on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. He retired in 1987 after 47 years of service. In 1970, Mr. O'Brien was appointed to the Washington Police Department, and served as chief of police from 1979 until his retirement in 1986. He was a member of the Becket Federated Church, the Becket Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Panoma Grange, where he earned the rank of Flora. He was a member of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and the General Electric Quarter Century and Pensioners clubs, and was a coach for Becket Little League. He leaves his wife, the former Bernice M. Newton, whom he married Jan. 10, 1952, in Dalton. Besides his wife, he leaves three sons, Norman F. O'Brien of Pittsfield, Gregory D. O'Brien of Washington, and Michael C. O'Brien of Eagle Lake, Maine; four daughters, Anne M. Fish of Pittsfield, Melody K. Hall of Thompson Station, Tenn., Ruth E. Rice of Hinsdale and Margaret L. Carnevale of Pittsfield; three brothers, Donald O'Brien of Cheshire, Gregory O'Brien of Huntington and David O'Brien of Otis; two sisters, Joyce Popek of Huntington and Sandra Hamilton of Lee; 16 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Denis E. O'Brien, who died April 14, 1965. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Funeral services for Norman O'Brien, who died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, will be held Friday, Dec. 29 at 10 a.m. at the Becket Federated Church with the Rev. Michael C. Nash officiating. Burial will follow in North Becket Cemetery. Calling hours are Thursday, from 5 to 8 p.m. at DERY-FOLEY FUNERAL HOME in Dalton. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the United Wounded Soldier Foundation, in care of the funeral home, 890 East Main St., Dalton, MA. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting and gardening. He also enjoyed sports and was a New York Giants fan. Most of all, he loved his grandchildren.

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