Richard A. O'Brien

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The Reverend
Richard A. O'Brien
SJ
16th Rector of the Ateneo de Manila University
In office
1927–1933
Preceded byFrancis J. Carlin
Succeeded byHenry C. Avery
Boston College Athletic Director
In office
1919–1924
Serving with Francis A. Reynolds
PresidentWilliam J. Devlin
Preceded byRev. John P. Meagher
Succeeded byFrancis A. Reynolds
In office
1916–1918
PresidentCharles W. Lyons
Preceded byRev. William F. McFadden
Succeeded byRev. John P. Meagher
Personal details
Born1880
Baltimore
DiedDecember 5, 1933 (aged 53)
Manila
NationalityAmerican
Alma materWoodstock College
ProfessionProfessor
Athletic director
Jesuit Priest

Richard A. O'Brien (1880–1933) was an American Jesuit official who served as rector of Ateneo de Manila University and athletic director of Boston College.

Early life[]

O'Brien was born in Baltimore in 1880. His father, William J. O'Brien, was a member of the United States House of Representatives and a judge of the orphans' court of Baltimore. His brother was Frederick O'Brien, author of White Shadows in the South Seas.[1] O'Brien entered the Jesuit order in 1901 and studied at Woodstock College.[2] He was ordained in 1912 and completed his tertianship at St. Andrew-on-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1915.[3]

Boston College[]

In 1915 O'Brien joined the Boston College faculty as a professor of Latin, Greek, English, and Evidence of Religion as well as faculty director of athletics.[3][4] During his tenure as athletic director, the school's athletic teams quickly improved. In 1916, the football team defeated their rival Holy Cross for the first time since 1899. In 1918 O’Brien entered the United States Army as a chaplain.[5] He returned to BC in 1919.[6] That year, O'Brien and BC President William J. Devlin recruited Francis A. Reynolds to the position of graduate director of athletics.[7] Reynolds was responsible for hiring football coach Frank Cavanaugh, hockey coaches Fred Rocque and Sonny Foley, baseball coaches Olaf Henriksen, Jack Slattery, and Hugh Duffy, and track coach Jack Ryder.[8][9]

Philippines[]

In 1924, O’Brien left Boston College for the Philippines. In 1927 he was appointed Rector of Ateneo de Manila University by Rev. James J. Carlin. In July 1932 he was made treasurer of the Jesuit order in the Philippines. In August 1932, Ateneo de Manila University was destroyed by fire and O'Brien took over the College of San Jose in Manila. He oversaw the construction of new buildings and the expansion of existing ones so that the work of Ateneo de Manila could continue.[1] O’Brien died on December 5, 1933, in Manila of a heart attack. He was 53 years old.[1][2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "The Rev. R. A. O'Brien Dies in Philippines". The New York Times. December 6, 1933.
  2. ^ a b "Rev R. A. O'Brien Dead at Manila". The Boston Daily Globe. December 6, 1933.
  3. ^ a b "Many Changes at Boston College". The Boston Daily Globe. July 31, 1915.
  4. ^ Boston College Catalogue 1917. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Rev Frs O'Brien and Lynch of Jesuit Order Appointed Army Chaplains". The Boston Daily Globe. April 28, 1918.
  6. ^ "Boston College Faculty Changes". The Boston Daily Globe. July 22, 1919.
  7. ^ Kenny, Herbert A. (January 10, 1934). "Father Richard A. O'Brien Dead". The Heights. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  8. ^ McGee, Frank (December 1, 1950). "Grad Managers Asset to Team". The Heights. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Reynolds to Quit as B.C. Sport Head". The Boston Daily Globe. November 22, 1929.
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