Posted by OC Register on August 19, 2009, 2:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Coach Titchenal recalled by Firstbrook, Vermeil, DeMonner, Jackson"
71.84.97.117
We received a print copy of this well-written Bill O'Brien's obit from his Orange, California Theta Chi friend Dick Roby.
There is a follow-up obit two day later on the Orange County Register site. (Dick died June 26, 2009)
William S. O'Brien
O'Brien, William S. Born Oct. 3, 1938, William S. O' Brien, after a full-speed, joyful, race through life, crossed the finish line on June 26, 2009, with top honors. The beachside home of parents Harold and Gibba O"Brien, warmly welcomed Bill's endless stream of local friends and classmates from the 81-member Laguna Beach High's class of 1957.
Bill was an athlete of extreme ability, equally blended with humility, courage and sportsmanship. Legendary LBHS Coach "Red" Guyer described Bill as "one of the most promising athletes he ever coached." Bill was selected by Orange League Schools as the Most Valuable 1956-1957 football player, leading the League with 136 single season points. He was selected to the all-CIF first team, and was installed in the Helms High School Hall of Fame. In track and field, he and 3 teammates set school, league, and many invitational 880 yard relay records, contributing to a 9th consecutive league track championship. He also contributed grit and skill to basketball, and was a student body officer, played sax in an excellent dance band and was admired for the beautiful girls on his always-busy arm.
During the summer of 1957, Bill toured Europe by motorbike with 5 classmates, then entered Santa Ana College with another group of classmates, graduated, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served 3 years active duty and 2 years reserve with a hometown group of '57 classmates. After his service he entered UC Berkeley on a full athletic scholarship, was injured playing football, recovered, and shifted to Cal State San Jose (?) to join his LBHS friends until graduation. Later, Bill opened "Mothers" a popular Laguna Sports Bar with loyal pal John Hustwick.
A corporate sales career followed, never far from Laguna and his many friends. An untimely stroke victim, Bill's private funds were exhausted by years of medical treatment and nursing home care. Friends John Hustwick and Don Guyer hope to gather $20,000 to set up a Laguna Beach High endowment to provide a $1,000 yearly scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1569, Laguna Beach, CA 95652-1569.
At the kind invitation of Laguna Mayor and Marine Room proprietor, Kelly Boyd, there will be a "wake"/celebration of Bill's life on Saturday, July 18th from 1-4 p.m. in Laguna. Bring memories! Always, to Bill, "Go Artists!"- Phil Good '57
(You can read and sign his guest book below)
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/orangecounty/obituary.aspx?n=william-s-obrien&pid=129781918
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