James O’Brien

10/28/1919 – 01/19/2013
Jim O’Brien, age 93, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2013 in Bellingham. He was born October 28, 1919 in Tacoma, WA, the second of five children of Harold T. and Julia R. (Burns) O’Brien. At a young age Jim was fascinated with books and began his daily habit of reading that continued his entire life. He married Patricia Hieber on August 21, 1953 at Sacred Heart Church and for their honeymoon they bicycled throughout Ireland. His undergraduate studies were at Seattle University and he earned his MA and PhD at the UW. He was devoted to the next generation of teachers as an English Professor at WWU for 39 years. Jim specialized in Irish literature and retired in 1985. Jim was a member of the Mt. Baker Hiking Club for over 50 years, a golfing member of the BGCC, and was an active member of Sacred Heart. Jim loved hiking, camping and traveling. He was outgoing and friendly, and had time for his children and grandchildren. He would throw a baseball or read them a story, and always had a chuckle for them at the dinner table. He was preceded in death by siblings Mary Martha, Donald, Joseph and Margaret. He is survived by his loving wife Pat of 59 years, children William and wife Jacalyn O’Brien, Maura and husband Dale Griggs, and Kathleen and husband Francis Seidl, and grandchildren, Sean and wife Mallory, Daniel, Joseph, Gordon, Jon, Eve, Julia, Tony and wife Shannon, and Fritz, great-granddaughter Corrina and many loving relatives and friends. The family is grateful to the staff at Highland Care Center for the care they gave to Jim. Memorials may be made to the WWU Foundation or the American Red Cross. Visitation will be held at Westford on Wed., Jan. 30 from 3-5 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Thurs., Jan. 31st at 12 noon followed by a reception.

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