James O'Brien Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

James "Jim" O'Brien Sr. 92, of Pocono Lake, died Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at home. He was the loving husband of Helen (Terhune) O'Brien, with whom he shared 62 years of marriage. Born in the Bronx and raised on Staten Island, New York, Jim was a son of the late Patrick and Mary (Curran) O'Brien. Following his discharge from the Marine Corps, he was a founding member and Commandant of the Staten Island Marine Corps League Detachment 246. He had a long and distinguished career in civil service positions. Jim was a member of the FDNY, Engine Co. 152 for 26 years, first as a fire fighter and ultimately a fire marshall. He served also as a U.S. Postal Service employee while attending the Fire Academy. Jim achieved his multiple college degrees under the GI Bill at Hunter College and at Wagner College, attending part time while working to support his family. Having earned his Master's in education, he taught first at Mount Loretto in Staten Island, New York and later after moving his family to Pocono Lake in 1975 taught at Pocono Mountain School District, as a substitute and then a 5th grade science teacher. Jim also guest lectured at Monroe College in Upstate New York on the topic of arson for students as part of the forensic science curriculum. Jim's last career step was joining the U.S. Federal Police as a Fire Specialist. He loved raising homing pigeons, spending time with his family, listening to Irish music, and vacationing annually in North Carolina with his extended clan, who will miss him deeply, but remember him for his incredible sense of humor, his singing voice and his starring roles in the feature films they made together. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Erin O'Brien and her husband, Fred Stout Jr. of Glenmoore; Olga Murray and her husband, Chris of Pocono Lake; granddaughter, Georgia Murray and many nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his son, James O'Brien Jr.; brothers: John, Kevin, Joseph, and Patrick O'Brien; and sister, Maureen Klein. There will be a visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, November 4, at Bolock Funeral Home, 6148 Paradise Valley Road, Cresco. Deacon Leonard will conduct a blessing service at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, by visiting tunnel2towers.org. Private cremation has been entrusted to Bolock Funeral Home Crematory.

James O'Brien

February 25, 1927 - October 1, 2019