The North Reading Fire Department is sad to report the loss of Fire Chief Edward O’Brien, ret., who passed on Sunday, January 8, 2023, after a lengthy illness.
Chief O’Brien was originally appointed to the North Reading Fire Department in 1974 as a Call Firefighter and to the Permanent Department in 1977. Chief O’Brien was promoted to Captain in 1991 and was appointed to Fire Chief in 1993 until he retired in 2005.
Chief O’Brien was born in Bangor, Maine on July 9, 1956, and moved to North Reading as a child. Chief O’Brien graduated from the North Reading High School in 1974 and completed his education with a B.S. in Fire Science and Protection from Salem State in 1991.
Chief O’Brien was a progressive leader and continuously looked for ways to improve not only the North Reading Fire Department, but the Fire Service and men and women who serve, as well, serving as President of North Reading Firefighters Local 1857 for 8 years and was a founding member of the Metro-Boston Critical Incident Stress Management Team which provides peer assistance to first responders after traumatic events. Chief O’Brien volunteered and led the team for 20 years. As part of the CISM team Chief O’Brien responded to the Worcester Cold Storage Fire as well as the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001. Chief O’Brien was a proud member of the Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and International Association of Firefighters.
In addition to his professional duties, Chief O’Brien was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and surfing. He enjoyed spending time working on his home and spending time with his wife Stacey. He and Stacey had the opportunity to travel to many places in his retirement, in which time he also was the owner of Cambridge Used Bicycles, a popular bicycle store and repair shop on McGrath Highway. He was also a member of the National Ski Patrol.
Chief O’Brien is survived by his wife Stacey, his son Sean O’Brien his fiancé Kate Maguire, his daughter Hilary Pennacchio and her husband Michael, and his brother William O’Brien and his wife Birgitta O’Brien. He is predeceased by his brother Nelson P O’Brien, his sister Gaye O’Brien. He was the son of Nelson and Mildred Messenger.
Arrangements for Chief O’Brien are as follows:
Wake: Tuesday, January 17, 2023, from 4pm to 7pm
Croswell’s Funeral Home
19 Bow Street
North Reading, MA 01864