Lynn — Charles T. “Charlie” O’Brien, age 79, longtime resident of Lynn, passed away peacefully at Union Hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. He was born on March 17, 1937, in Medford, son of the late, Joseph L. and Margaret S. (Duddy) O’Brien. He was raised and educated in Malden and graduated from Fitchburg State College with a BS in Education.
Charlie worked for almost 30 years as a culinary arts teacher at Northeast Metropolitan Vocational Technical High School in Wakefield. He was a Ward 3 Councilor and a Councilor At-Large in the City of Lynn for many years. He was a coach in the East Lynn Little League for many years. He was active with The Lynn Knights of Columbus, Valladolid Council #70. Charlie was also very active with Holy Family Parish. He volunteered his time on the Parish Council, with the youth committee and the CYO Basketball League. He was a strong advocate for the Right to Life movement. He enjoyed going to yard sales to look for hidden treasures. He loved to spend time with his grandchildren, attending their school activities and sporting events.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Janice (Callahan) O’Brien. His children, Jeanne Mason and husband, Donald, Colleen Brazell and husband, Keith, Kerry Calnan and her late husband, John, Mark O’Brien and wife, Laurie, Erin Bushway and husband, Matthew, Andrea Fila and husband, Tim, Brendan O’Brien and wife, Andrea, Meaghan O’Brien, all of Lynn. Patricia Briggs and husband, Douglas, of East Windsor, Conn., Charles T. O’Brien Jr., and wife, Karla, of North Reading, James O’Brien and wife, Julie, of Swampscott, Michael O’Brien of Manassas, Va. His sisters, Claire Hubauer and Christine Georgakopoulos. 40 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive him.
Service information: Calling hours are Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, from 4–8 p.m., at Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple St., Lynn, MA 01904. The funeral will begin at the funeral home at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. The funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m., at St. Pius V Church, 215 Maple St., in Lynn. Burial will follow the Mass in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Lynn. Donations are requested to: Make-A-Wish America, Gift Processing, 4742 North 24th St., Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ 85016. Please visit Cuffemcginn.com for directions, or to sign the online guest book.