Reg O’Brien

2017

Francis Reginald O’Brien
18 Jan 1954 - 28 Oct 2017

Clubs & Associations

Obituary

O'BRIEN, Francis Reginald – Reg passed away at home on October 28, 2017 in his 64th year. Beloved husband of 30 years to Anne Currie. Loving father of Elizabeth (Michael) and Timothy (Frances). Lovingly remembered by his brother-in-law, John Pacello, and his sister-in-law, Pat O’Brien, as well as his nephews, John and Dennis, and niece, Becki. Predeceased by his parents, Timothy and Josephine O’Brien, and by his sister, Eileen, and brother, Dennis.

Reg graduated from the University of Western Ontario and began his 33-year teaching career in Hearst, Ontario in September 1979. He spent six years in Northern Ontario and then decided to return south. He taught thousands of students at Huron Heights, Denison, Langstaff and Newmarket High. He started teaching English and Theatre Arts, then moved into English as a Second Language, Media Studies, Special Education and Student Success.

Reg was active in the local community theatre scene, a love that began in high school and continued at Western. He graced the stages of Theatre Aurora, Newmarket Theatre Centre, Queensville Players and Curtain Club as an actor, director and stage manager. He took up square dancing and could do a “spin, chain through” with the best of them. Reg enjoyed gardening and spending time with family and friends at the family cottage in the Almaguin Highlands. He was looking forward with great happiness to the birth of his first grandchild in March 2018.

Reg had many hobbies, including theatre, film, reading, gardening and traveling. Upon retiring in 2012, he began donating his time to volunteering in the local community at places like Southlake hospital, the Newmarket Food Pantry and, most recently, at the SPCA, to name a few. Reg worked out four or five times a week at a local gym where he made life-long friends.

Reg will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Friends may call at the Thompson Funeral Home, 530 Industrial Parkway South (northeast corner of Industrial Parkway and Yonge Street), Aurora, 905-727-5421. Visitations are Monday, November 13, 2017 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at 10 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life in the Chapel at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the new Margaret Bahen Hospice in Newmarket or the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated. Online condolences may be made at www.thompsonfh-aurora.com.^[1]