John Michael O'Brien

John attended high school in Gloucester, Massachusetts where in addition to school, he spent many grueling hours earning a living as a mate on lobster boats as well as working with his father in his window-cleaning business. He re-located to Tampa to join his siblings in the early 60’s and in 1962, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served there for three years, ultimately finding himself deployed to Germany. It was in Germany, while serving our Country, that John met the love of his life, Mary Ellen. They were eventually married and settled back in Tampa, which started their 55+ year journey together. Once back in Tampa, John secured a job at Tampa’s Continental Can Company where he worked midnights for 30 years. During this time, he also attended the University of South Florida to obtain his bachelor’s degree in education with a certification in special education and a number of hours towards his masters in mathematics. Once he acquired his teaching certification, he could be found feeding his passion by substitute teaching in all of the local special education programs during the day while still working midnights at Continental Can. After retirement from Continental Can Company, John continued his work as a Special Education teacher in such local middle schools as Sulphur Springs Elementary, Forest Hills Elementary and general education in schools like Most Holy Redeemer and The Academy of the Holy Names. Eventually, he left retirement and taught at Morning Star School in Tampa where he was known as “Mr. O” and where he was able to feed his passion and make a difference in the lives of many students.

Many knew John not just as a teacher, but one who took his life skills, and made them into hands on lessons for his students. It was not uncommon for family and friends of John’s to come across students he taught throughout his career that would share the impact he had on them in life changing ways. When not teaching, John was called to serve in their Church, Most Holy Redeemer, where our Lord placed him in many roles over the 50 years he and Mary Ellen attended.

With all his loves and roles, anyone that knew John saw his true success was his love and marriage to his beautiful bride and their raising of his three daughters Maureen, Caroline, and Kathleen who survive him.

John’s latest years were spent at Tampa Lakes Health Rehabilitation. Family and friends could not go to visit John without seeing his unique and positive impact on both the residents and staff. Being in a wheel chair, or the other challenges that found John, never shook his faith in our Lord or his desire to help others there. It wasn’t uncommon to see his and other resident’s televisions all blaring his favorite “Grit TV” channel. This became viral as family even saw the channel on in the resident’s hall after John’s passing. John has now joined his beloved Mary Ellen in Heaven with our Lord Jesus and is now survived by his beautiful daughters, and their husband’s Matt Radeck (Maureen), Rob Buster (Caroline) and Ed Harris(Kathleen) and his grandchildren Freya and Parish.

Please join us for visitation which will be held on Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 at 5:00 pm through 7:00 pm at Blount and Curry Funeral Home (Carrollwood), 3207 W. Bears Ave, Tampa, FL, (813) 968-2231.For those unable to attend, you may watch the service live via the Blount & Curry Funeral Home Carrollwood’s Facebook page. You may contact the family, or the funeral home for assistance with this

A Catholic Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 10th, 2023 at 11:00 am at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 10110 N. Central Ave, Tampa FL, (813) 933-2859. Immediately following Mass, a Celebration of Life will be held in the Church’s Duffy Hall.

The Graveside Service will be private and will be held at a later date at Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4207 E. Lake Ave, Tampa, FL.

In lieu of flowers the family is respectfully asking for donations in John’s name which can be sent to Morning Star School Tampa.

www.morningstartampa.org