Sean Timothy O'Brien was a brother, son, father and friend. He lived life to the fullest for 44 years and always regarded his daughter, family and friends as his most precious gifts. In return, we loved him dearly and shared many happy memories together.
Sean was born on Sept 17, 1965, the only son of the late Dr. James F. O'Brien, a professor of Philosophy at Villanova Univ. and former Navy officer from Avoca, PA, and Alberta T. (Heinzelmann) O'Brien, a medical librarian at Montgomery Hospital, former social worker and Chestnut Hill College nurse from Danbury, CT.
Sean grew up in King of Prussia, PA and enjoyed many sports including soccer, basketball, baseball, swimming, wave running, skiing and track. He loved holidays, family parties and neighborhood gatherings. He was a diehard Genesis fan and loved going to concerts. A child at heart, he was a huge fan of Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Transformers and G.I. Joe. Budweisers, Captain Crunch cereal and Franzone's pizza were also favorites, as well as a rare steak on the grill.
Mischievous and fun loving, and typically sarcastic to a fault, Sean could always make you laugh. The only boy of the family, he was tall, dark and handsome, and fought hard to get a word in edgewise around his three sisters, Joan, Marci and Megan.
Belmont Elementary School, Upper Merion Junior High, Archbishop John Carroll H.S. and Villanova Univ. rounded out his education. First job as a pool lifeguard, sports gear specialist and commercial pool and spa equipment sales all led him toward his final career of sales in commercial HVAC equipment. Sean always considered the close-knit team at Clapp Associates as dear friends, in addition to being wonderful coworkers.
Sean's daughter Kiera was his absolute pride and joy. She was everything to him! He was a loving and responsible father and seeing them together would put a smile on your face. Sean adored spending time with her, from swimming lessons, soccer games, playground visits, cooking together or just hanging out watching Scooby-Doo and superhero cartoons with each other … this was the time he treasured most.
Sean loved spoiling his four nephews. Toys and teasing were always tops with him. When Zach was 2 ½ years old, he thought the President of the United States was "Uncle Sean" and Owen couldn't stop giggling whenever Sean held him. Chris remembers birthday cake being smashed in his face and Tyler loved the purple "polo" shirt. Connor remembers his first concert experience (Coldplay) with his godfather and Jason loved grilling burgers and watching movies at his house.
Sean loved to dance. At every wedding he would impress the crowd with his signature moves, including "The Lawnmower" and "Larry the Lobster." He embraced his Irish heritage and enjoyed time with cousins from Avoca, Pennsylvania. Holidays were always fun with Sean … Easter egg hunts where nobody could find the eggs that Sean hid or each Halloween when Sean would pass out record numbers of candy bars and Capri Sun juice pouches.
Time with friends was very important to Sean, whether it was catching Villanova basketball games with Chris Bowler, enjoying Eagles football games and concerts with Jay Constantine, crooning Frank Sinatra tunes with Jeff Hunt, playing basketball with Chris Panaro or hanging out with his colleagues from Clapp Associates.
Sean showed his sensitive, cultured side with his godmother, Jo Albarelli. Lunches together in Philadelphia, season tickets to the ballet, art exhibits at museums and galleries, Jo's influence inspired Sean to truly appreciate and enjoy the arts.
Sean loved spending time with family … birthdays, graduations, christenings … but he especially looked forward to the annual week at the beach with the entire O'Brien clan. Spending hours in the ocean with Kiera, roughhousing with his nephews, building sandcastles, all while working on his signature summertime deep bronze tan.
Sean loved his house and working in the yard. He found the Skippack area in Collegeville, Pennsylvania a great place to live and raise a daughter. Sean was our family historian and keeper of family treasures with his basement full of sentimental heirlooms (or just dust collectors our mother could not bare to part with!)
And Sean loved helping people, whether it was donating blood every year to the Red Cross, moving his youngest sister from apartment to apartment in NYC, helping his parents with house upkeep or assisting neighbors with jobs that required "some muscle!" With that in mind, it was only appropriate for him to continue giving as a donor for the Gift of Life organ and tissue transplant program.
Sean knew how to celebrate life and when we think of him, it's often with big smiles on our faces … but always with love in our hearts. We love you and miss you! Joan, Marci & Megan (the three sisters)