Thomas Anthony O’Brien

Published 1:27 pm Friday, February 14, 2025

Thomas Anthony O’Brien

December 9, 1943 – November 10, 2024

Thomas Anthony O’Brien died of Alzheimer’s on November 10, 2025. To all he was known as Tom, Dad, or Poppa. To those who knew him, Tom will be remembered as a beautiful spirit, a gentle soul, and an intentional participant in life. And with his friends and family, they experienced Tom’s enjoyment of every day. If it included travel or just being outdoors, it was a very good day. 

Tom credited his mother, Mary, with influencing his curiosity and love of science. His education began in Bergenfield, NJ and continued onto his BS/MS/PhD in organic chemistry at Penn State and Harvard University. Science and German fluency were Tom’s springboard to a successful and multifaceted career at Polaroid Corporation headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The initial doorway of product development led to executive roles in product planning and new product management, worldwide manufacturing, overseas project management and international marketing.

Balance was a skill that Tom honed to be a dad who could return from a business trip in Japan and be present at high school soccer games without missing a beat. Augusts were an annual time on Cape Cod with family that began with van camping and then a summer home. Stories of trunks full of bluefish caught off the Cape can still set off lots of laughter.

After meeting his life partner, Leslie Koc, in 1988, and beginning an early retirement from Polaroid in 1996, Tom launched the next chapter in his full life. His love of learning called him back to school to begin a profession in executive coaching and that was followed by teaching at Syracuse University, University of Washington, and University of Texas at Dallas. Tom’s wanderlust started early with his handwritten hitchhiker sign and then continued as he and Leslie were able to spend more time enjoying the far and near reaches of the globe. 

Tom’s professional accomplishments were always secondary to a life purpose of making a difference. In the 60’s Tom took on active roles in campaigns of leaders who worked to make the world a better place. Either hitchhiking or by bus headed south from New Jersey to teach in Alabama at disadvantaged schools defined Tom. Close to home, Tom found his place in the mission to help create a meaningful and sustaining presence of Bethlehem Inn, Central Oregon’s largest emergency shelter. In addition to his leadership Board role at Bethlehem Inn, Tom and Leslie began coordinating and serving a monthly dinner with Unitarian Universalist volunteers in 2008 that continues to this day. 

Tom is survived by his wife, Leslie Koc; daughter, Christine, Kensington, CA; sons, Jason (Shannon), Fontana, CA, John (Cheryl Knox) San Diego, CA, and Jim, Boulder Creek, CA; grandchildren, JJ, Hunter, Leah, and Miles; great grandson, Jacob. Tom was preceded in death by both his parents, Thomas and Mary, sister, Patricia Gabriels, and brothers-inlaw, Hal Gabriels and Wes Greenman. 

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 3:30pm at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 61980 Skyline Ranch Road, Bend, OR 97703 with a reception following at the church.

Per his wishes, donations in Tom’s memory can be made to Bethlehem Inn, PO Box 8540, Bend, OR 97708.