James Augustus O'Brien Jr.

James Augustus O’Brien Jr.

July 12, 1949- January 25, 2023

James Augustus O’Brien Jr., 73, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2023, at his home in Berwyn, PA. He was surrounded by his loving family throughout his final days.

Jim was born in Philadelphia, PA to the late James and Mae (Burke) O’Brien. He attended St. Lawrence parish school, graduated from Bonner High School in 1967 and St. Joseph’s University in 1971 with a BS in Marketing Management Science. In 1994 he received his MBA from University of New Haven. 

Jim spent his career in the foodservice industry, beginning in sales with Maryland Cup and then Edward Don.  In 1985, Jim joined GCS Service, a food equipment service company.  At GCS, he began his career as a Branch Manager, eventually becoming Executive Vice President and Partner.  In 2003, Jim became a founding Partner of NACPS, an industry roll up organization.  After the sale of NACPS to Parts Town in 2015, Jim continued in a senior management role until his retirement in 2022. Wherever he worked, Jim will be remembered for his integrity, passion, and competitive spirit.

In December of 1967 he met the love of his life Connie Meyer at a holiday dance mixer held at Holy Cross parish in Springfield, PA. They wed in the summer of 1970 and together raised their 2 children Heather and Colin in PA, NJ, FL, and CT. Jim and Connie shared a 52-year loving marriage that was filled with laughter, family gatherings, and an immense amount of travel throughout the world.

At age 13 Jim began caddying at Aronimink Golf Club which ignited a lifelong passion for the sport of golf taking him to clubs all over the US and Ireland. Locally Jim could be found on the links of Penn Oaks and St. David’s Golf Clubs sharing a round with friends. Travel was the greatest passion of Jim’s life. He and Connie traveled extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Australasia where they enjoyed sightseeing, eating at the best restaurants, and enjoying a glass of wine. Often after these trips Jim and Connie enjoyed entertaining for friends and family where they would often try recipes from their travels and share the stories of their latest adventure. No better words were heard by the grandchildren than it was time to go on a “Pop-Pop adventure”. These adventures ranged from the Philly Zoo and Please Touch Museum when they were young to trips to Broadway in New York City or a whole family vacation to Jamaica and Hawaii when they were older.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Connie; his two children Heather O’Brien Burns (Eric) and Colin O’Brien (Kira); and five grandchildren Emily, Brendan, Delaney, Caitlin, and Claire.

Family and friends are invited to a Visitation 5:00-7:00 PM Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at Donohue Funeral Home, 366 W. Lancaster Ave. Wayne, PA 19087 and to his Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 AM February 2, 2023 at St. Monica Church, 63 Main Ave. Berwyn, PA 19312. Interment will follow at St. Dennis Cemetery, Havertown, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the J Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Fund, online at

https://plattscholar.org/donate/ would be appreciated.