Michael O'Brien

Somerset, NJ

Michael O'Brien, 76, of Somerset, NJ, passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in New Brunswick. Born and raised in Bayonne, NJ, Mike resided in Manville, Bridgewater and Branchburg before moving to Somerset with loving wife Kathleen five years ago.

Mike graduated from Bayonne High School and soon after joined the Air Force during the Vietnam War. After returning home, he started a decades-long career at AT&T, primarily as a property manager. He then completed his career at Dassault Falcon Jet before retiring in 2014.

A true problem solver, Mike knew how to fix anything you threw at him. He enjoyed spending his winters in New Port Richey, FL, where he was a member of the Gulf Harbor Yacht Club. During his free time, Mike loved to boat, fish, swim, and take annual vacations down to Long Beach Island.

Mike was a natural-born storyteller and jokester who loved his British murder mystery shows and possessed great knowledge of World War II history. He was an avid Yankees and Giants fan and loved going on cruises to Bermuda. Most importantly, Mike enjoyed spending quality time with his family, especially his grandchildren and his yellow lab, Cassie.

He is preceded in death by his beloved parents, Margaret and John O'Brien; first wife, Lorraine Simpleski; two sisters, Patricia Kimmig and Margaret Ann Worst; and his brother, John O'Brien.

Surviving are his loving wife of 40 years, Kathleen O'Brien; three dear sons, Kevin and wife Kristin O'Brien of Sicklerville, NJ; Michael and wife Meghan Marts of Rockaway, NJ; Sean O'Brien and partner Tracey Jones of Somerset, NJ; two loving daughters, Erin and husband Conrad Harkiewicz of Yardley, PA; Jennifer and husband David Herchakowski of Oceanport, NJ; a dear brother, Dennis and wife Marilyn O'Brien of Westfield, NJ; and eight adored grandchildren—Isabella, Connor, Haleigh, Brooke, Alexandra, Avery, Luke and Violet.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, August 8, 2024 from 3-7pm at the Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 Rt. 202 South, Branchburg, NJ 08876.

A prayer service will begin at the funeral home on Friday, August 9, 2024 at 9am. Funeral mass will follow at 10am at St. Joseph's Church 34 Yorktown Road Hillsborough, NJ 08844. Committal is private.

Memorial contributions may be made in Michael's memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital http://stjude.org/ or U.S. Vets to End Homelessness https://usvets.org/about-us/