Charles O’Brien Obituary

Dr. Charles O’Brien, age 94, died peacefully on January 25, 2022 in Williamstown, Massachusetts after a short illness.

Charles was born to Dr. E.J. O’Brien and Margaret (Hart) O’Brien in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and spent his youth in Green Bay, Wisconsin becoming an Eagle Scout and graduating from St. Patrick’s Grade School and Catholic Central High School. Charles (known as Chuck to his family), not surprisingly, was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers.

Charles was an academic, receiving his undergraduate degree from Notre Dame University and his PhD from Columbia University. His education was interrupted by the Korean War, where he proudly served as an army medic. Following graduation from Notre Dame he was ordained into the Holy Cross order and earned his PhD. He went on to study at the Vatican (S.T.L.) and several European universities before coming back to the United States to teach at Notre Dame. While in Europe he met his future wife, Elvy.

Charles enjoyed a rich teaching career at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. He was a deeply spiritual person, who chose to pursue his religious life as a minister and spiritual leader in the Episcopal Church serving in several parishes in Illinois and Massachusetts.

Charles and his wife Elvy ended up in Williamstown; Charles commuting to Macomb and Elvy pursuing her art history career at The Clark. They were active at St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Berkshire International Club, and the Scandinavian Club. After his retirement from Western Illinois Charles began a new career of writing murder mystery novels. He did his research in Europe and America and could be frequently found in the stacks of the Williams College Library.

Charles was a true renaissance man, the consummate gentleman. He was always dressed smartly, had a witty turn of phrase with a good sense of humor, always had a gracious word to friend and stranger alike, and was fluent in French, German, Italian, Swedish, and Latin. In recent years you might find him boxing in the Sweetwood gym or sipping green tea and enjoying pastries on Spring Street.

He was a dedicated historian and novelist, authoring thirteen mystery novels: the Anne Cartier series, set in Pre-Revolution France, and the Gilded Age series, set in late nineteenth century America. In his own words, “While commuting, 1988-1994, between Williamstown and Macomb, I wanted to make use of time on board and in airports. Many of my fellow passengers were reading crime novels. I thought why not exploit my fund of historical settings and write an historical mystery. I was also teaching "The History of Modern Crime & Police". The idea of Mute Witness blossomed in the air between Albany and Chicago. In 1994, I turned seriously to the art of writing fiction under the tutelage of a colleague in the university's English department.”

Dr. O’Brien was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 50 years, Dr. Elvy O’Brien, his parents and his brothers Father Christian O’Brien and Dr. Michael O’Brien. He is survived by his brother Father John O’Brien and his sister, Patricia Schneider, both of Green Bay, Wisconsin. He is further survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Charles will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 35 Park Street, Williamstown, MA at 10:00 am, Thursday, February 17, 2022; internment to follow at East Lawn Cemetery in Williamstown. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com