Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Jack O'Brien

John Jeremiah "Jack" O'Brien, Jr.


Born:
July 25, 1916
Brooklyn, NY

Died:
June 18, 1994
Windsor, CT


Career
1931-32 St. John's Prep - Brooklyn (High School)
1932-33 St. John's Prep - Brooklyn (High School)
1933-34 St. John's Prep - Brooklyn (High School)
1935-36 Columbia University (College)
1936-37 Columbia University (College)
1937-38 Columbia University (College)
1938-39 Brooklyn Visitations (ABL)
1939-40 Baltimore Clippers (ABL)
1940-41 Baltimore Clippers (ABL)
1940-41 Troy (NYSL)
1941-42 Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (NBL)
1941-42 Pittsfield (NYSL)
1941-42 Schuykill Haven (TCL)
1941-42 Brideport Newfields (CSL)
1944-45 Paterson Crescents / Washington Capitols (ABL)
1944-45 New York Westchesters (ABL)
1945-46 Dunmore - Scranton (CSL)
1945-46 Hartford (NEBL)
1946-47 Hartford (NEBL)
1947-48 Hartford (NEBL)
1947-48 Wallingford (ECL)
1947-48 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL) - Player / coach
1948-49 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL) - Player / coach
1949-50 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL) - Player / coach 

Born in Brooklyn to John and Celia O'Brien. He attended St John's Prep before heading to Columbia, where "Columbia Jack" would lead the Ivy League in scoring on the court. His father, John O'Brien Sr, was a founder of the ABL, and he joined the league after graduation. He enjoyed a long stint in the ABL, with a quick stop for Goodyear in the NBL before heading back east where he wound up a player/coach. After his playing days, we remained competitive in recreational sporting activities, and also officiated games in the NBA for years. O'Brien worked as a plant manager at ARGO in Berlin, Connecticut, as well as personnel director at Sitex Corporation in Hartford. A long-time resident of Windsor, CT, he was heavily involved in youth athletics in town and the high school football stadium was named for  him after his passing.
He married Lynn Harris (1921-2014) in 1948 and they had five sons, William, John, Michael, Jerry, and K.C., and a daughter, Charron Russo.


Sources:
Obituary
Hartford Courant, September 6, 1994
Columbia Athletics

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/o/obriejo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=obrieja01

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