Obituary, Robert Ambrose O’Brien

Robert Ambrose O’Brien passed away Saturday, August 29 at Englewood Community Hospital.
Known to all his friends as Bob, he was born to Margaret McLoughlin and Ambrose O’Brien on July 30, 1944, in Mineola, N.Y. He was one of four siblings: the younger brother of Betty, the older brother of Billy and Anne. He was raised in New York, graduated from Regis High School in Manhattan, a prestigious Jesuit institution, and attended another Jesuit school, LeMoyne College, in upstate Syracuse. He earned a master’s degree in library science from Syracuse University.

While at Syracuse University, he met a fellow future librarian, Gail Satterlee. After he returned from service in the Air Force in Vietnam, Gail consented to marry him. After the wedding, they worked together in the same public library in upstate New York, until the birth of their daughter, Ruth. Gail and Bob remained inseparable until her untimely death in 2001.

When Ruth was a baby, Bob sought a more lucrative position working as a librarian, and later, as a counselor, for the New York State Department of Corrections. His Catholic background influenced him to believe in the dignity of every human being, the importance of mercy and charity for everyone, and the immorality of capital punishment.

Like many Catholic gentlemen, Bob’s spiritual growth and involvement in Church was nurtured not only by his fine Jesuit instructors but also by his membership in the Knights of Columbus. He became Sir Robert O’Brien when he earned his Fourth Degree, and served in any role needed, including inside guard, outside guard, chancellor and director of publicity for the Knights of Columbus in the Fr. Michael Cottrell Council 7672. The life of any Knight is incomplete without his active devotion to his country, family and Parish.

In Florida, Bob was a very active member of the St. Francis of Assisi Parish for 16 years, becoming a regular fixture, helping with fundraisers of many kinds, events and spaghetti dinners. Bob also became involved with the Respect Life movement in the Diocese of Venice, attending Walks for Life not only in his own Parish, but also in Port Charlotte, where he participated in 40 Days for Life and prayed in front of the local abortuary on Olean Boulevard. However, he did more than demonstrate against abortion; he knew the importance of supporting young mothers during pregnancy and after the birth of their children. He did so by contributing to the Pregnancy Careline Center in Port Charlotte, and encouraged others to do so.

Family was very important to Bob. He was devastated after the untimely loss of his first wife, Gail, to cancer in 2001. However, he eventually found consolation when he met his beloved second wife, Kathy, a recent widow. He was a devoted husband to her for almost 18 years. With her expert help, they raised twins Daniel and Mary. The twins were his pride and joy, and they followed in his footsteps in service to the Church. Even as infants, they attended Mass. Like their dad in his youth, both became altar servers. In addition, he spent countless hours helping them become the first kids at St. Francis of Assisi to serve as lectors at the Children’s Mass.

In keeping with the devoted father that he was, Bob encouraged the twins in their education and sports, spending countless hours driving them to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Port Charlotte as well as many, many soccer games. Bob was the world’s most dedicated soccer dad. He was incredibly proud of Mary and Daniel, pushing them to be both scholars and athletes. He was overjoyed as they maintained 4.0 averages while playing on the St. Charles Crusaders soccer team and winning the league championship. He was similarly proud of his daughter, Ruth, who was a field hockey player as well as valedictorian of her class at Dover High School, and a graduate of Boston University. He was thrilled with Ruth’s young daughter, Avani, who loves books.

Bob was a blessing to his family and to everyone who knew him. Being a Latin major and possessing a master’s degree in library science, words came naturally to him. But when it came to communicating his faith, he used something far more powerful than words, HOW HE LIVED HIS LIFE.

Bob can only hope that others will honor his memory by using each day to show God’s love to others by the way we live our lives.

Internment will be private at Valley View Cemetery in Dover Plains, New York. To send the family an online condolence, please visit

Author: Harlem Valley News