Obituary of David Matthew O'Brien

David Matthew O’Brien Obituary

David Matthew O’Brien, the loved and appreciated social media organizer who was followed by thousands of Facebook Friends, passed away on Easter Monday, April 22 in St. Petersburg, FL at the age of 67. Born on September 29, 1951 in Gainesville FL, Dave grew up in Weirsdale FL, Charlottesville VA, Newark OH and Dover DE where he graduated from Dover High School in 1969.

For about 12 years, Dave traveled, served briefly in the US military, dabbled in property remodeling, photography, and ran his own painting and real estate businesses.

By the mid-1980’s, Dave had "settled down" to became a commercial charter bus driver for one of the largest providers of luxury motor coach vacation tours in the US. While driving the 45 foot long 12 foot high giants, Dave toured the California Coast, the Rockies, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, numerous World Series, Super Bowls, the NY Philharmonic, the Kennedy Center, the QE2 and even took his nieces and nephews on Dave Specials from Florida to PA and to the great Wild West.

After 20+ years of driving and reaching the rank of captain, Dave retired in St. Petersburg FL – he loved the friends, fishing and warm weather. It was there that Dave expanded his photography and social networking life which became his passions and endeared him to thousands of friends from Dover HS, Holy Cross HS, Caesar Rodney HS, DAFB HS and others by reconnecting folks with childhood friends, posting online yearbooks, organizing reunion events, and contributing to one or more HS Sweetheart Reconnection Marriages! Today his online photo bucket has countless US Touring pictures, yearbook pictures, reunion pictures and more. You can still browse through these pictures by Googling David M O’Brien Photobucket and can still connect with friends on his Facebook Memorial Page.

Dave is predeceased by his parents, Leland and Marian O’Brien, and sisters, Mary Lee O’Brien and Bonnie Marie O’Brien Spillane. He is survived by his Dover HS graduate brothers, Steven and wife Debbie, Mark and Eric - nephews, Steven Michael Jr and Timothy Leland - nieces, Cynthia Nicole Spillane Gibbs and Rebecca Marie Spillane - and Great Niece and Great Nephews, Leland Carter O’Brien, Grace Mackenzie O’Brien, Sam Huston Gibbs, and Killian Michael O’Brien.

Memorial Services will be held in St. Petersburg FL at the home of long-time friends, Bobby and Jennifer Lefort on Saturday, May 11 at 12pm, and in Dover DE at Fraizer’s On The Water on Saturday, June 22 at 10am. Words in memory of Dave and condolences may be left at www.alifetribute.com.