Fsc Brother John J. Martin O'Brien

Brother John Martin O’Brien, FSC, 88, of the Scalabrini Nursing Home, North Kingstown, RI, died on Thursday, September 18, 2008. Brother Martin was born in Providence, RI on March 20, 1920, son of the late John P. and Elizabeth (Davidson) O’Brien. He was the brother of the late George E. O’Brien. He leaves three brothers, William O’Brien of Natick, MA, Robert O’Brien of Johnston, RI and James O’Brien of Dover, NH. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. Brother Martin entered the Brothers of the Christian Schools at Barrytown, NY, in 1949 and received the habit in September of that year. He pronounced his final vows in 1955 in Troy, NY. Brother Martin received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Providence College, Providence, RI in 1949. He earned two Master’s degrees: one in Counseling from Catholic University of America, Washington, DC in 1952 and the other in Theology from Manhattan College, Bronx, NY in 1969. Brother Martin began his teaching career in 1954 at St. Bernard’s Academy in New York. From there he taught at De La Salle Collegiate High School in Detroit, MI, and La Salle Military Academy, Oakdale, NY. From 1969-1978 he worked as the Assistant Director of Religious Education for the Diocese of Norwich, CT. His other assignments were as Chairman of the Religion Department at St. Bernard’s High School, Uncasville, CT, Associate Director of the Deaconate Program in the Diocese of Brooklyn, NY, Parish Director of Religious Education at St. Joseph’s Church, Hope Valley, RI, until his retirement in 2000 at Scalabrini Brothers Residence, North Kingstown, RI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 22 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Star Chapel, Christian Brothers Center, 635 Ocean Road, Narragansett, RI. Burial will follow in the Brothers’ Cemetery. Visiting hours will be from 1:30 - 4:30 on Sunday, September 21, at the Christian Brothers Center.