Raymond V. O’Brien Jr., 91, beloved husband, father, grandfather and father-in-law, died peacefully July 14, surrounded by his loving wife Ellen of 37 years and his six children.
Born in the Bronx in 1927, he graduated from Regis High School and Fordham University and earned his Juris Doctor from Fordham University Law School.
Ray was the former chairman and CEO of Emigrant Savings Bank in New York City. Prior to Emigrant, he rose through the ranks of Chase Manhattan Bank to become senior vice president in charge of shipping and aerospace under David Rockefeller. Raymond was formerly a member of the board of directors of Todd Shipyards and International Ship Holding Corporation.
Ray was an extraordinary philanthropist and a dedicated supporter of the Catholic Church. He was a Knight of Malta, chairman of the Inner City Scholarship Fund of the Archdiocese of New York City working with Archbishop Cardinal O’Connor and chairman of the board of the Catholic Youth Organization of New York Ctiy.
He was the vice chairman of the board of Fordham University, chairman of the board of Regis High School and a trustee of Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft. Ray was president of Navesink Country Club in Middletown, as well as president of The Plantation in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Raymond served in the United States Army in 1946 and again as a first lieutenant and company commander in the 558th Motor Division in Seoul, South Korea during the Korean War. Raymond lived in the Bronx; Stuyvesant Town, New York; Matawan; Colts Neck; and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Raymond was married in 1982 to his adoring wife Ellen from Seaford, Long Island. He is also survived by his six children from his previous marriage to Theresa Sweeney (deceased) from 1952 to 1981: Dr. Susan O’Brien of Laguna Beach, California; Raymond O’Brien III (Patty) of La Canada, Canada; Christopher O’Brien (Elizabeth) of Greenwich, Connecticut; Sean O’Brien (Kerry) of Colts Neck; Dr. Carol O’Brien of Rocky Hill, Connecticut; and Nancy Meisenzahl (Scott) of Webster, New York. Ray is also survived by 11 loving grandchildren, Raymond, William (Claire), Brendan, Mathew, Griffin, Kayleigh, Connor, Jack, Rory, Ryan and Maeve.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. July 22 at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Funeral arrangements by Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to his beloved Regis High School in New York City at regis.org and/or The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
