John Bligh
- Retired teacher
William “Bill” O’Brien was a master teacher, inculcating a love of literature and poetry in his students at Fort Hamilton HS in Brooklyn, where he taught for 24 years. He also was a strong union supporter, encouraging his fellow educators to participate and take leadership roles in the UFT. He had a great sense of humor and a love of life that enlivened the classroom and school for both students and colleagues. Bill died on March 16, 2024, of metabolic encephalopathy, at age 73.
Bill began his teaching career in 1990, after having explored other options. An early love of music was ignited when he watched the Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show” as a child. He played guitar and piano in local groups, performing for President Lyndon B. Johnson during the opening of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish a successful placement agency, the O’Brien Ross Management Group. But Bill found his life’s calling when he became a teacher at Fort Hamilton HS.
“There will never be another person like him. He taught me so much about teaching, learning, challenging myself, facing adversity with grace — and how to make a delicious pot of 16-bean soup!” said Kristen Brehm, who met Bill as a new English teacher just out of college. “He talked to me about how important this union is and gave me an education about unionism,” said Brehm, who is now a UFT chapter advocate.
Bill was a consultation committee member and a union delegate, and he encouraged Brehm to become a chapter leader, delegate and consultation committee member. “He mentored and really encouraged me in all those things,” she said.
Student Muse Yip recalled that Bill “wasn’t easy on kids.” He insisted that they learn “all of the classics, like Twain, Shakespeare and poetry. He was a writer himself, of short stories and poetry, and he shared his love of literature with students.”
Bill taught students who were in remedial to AP Honors English classes, she said. Students “who didn’t like reading when they entered his class left actually liking to read,” said Yip, who went on to major in English in college. “He was great, he was inspiring and he was the best teacher.”
“A true scholar and a gentleman,” is how Niki Maratos Stefanakis, an English teacher at Fort Hamilton HS, refers to Bill. “He brought the AP English Language and Composition course” to their school and shared his work with Stefanakis when he retired. He wanted her to take the course on, but told her to make the class her own. “I cannot recall feeling more grateful to any colleague,” she said.
Alan Zeitlin, another former colleague, said, “I always thought Bill could have been an actor or a political commentator on TV, as he had such passion, an ability to turn a phrase and fearlessness. But lucky for us and the youth of Brooklyn, he decided to become a teacher.”
Bill won many education awards, fellowships and grants over the years, his son Chris O’Brien said. He also was an adjunct professor at the College of Staten Island, where he infused his classes with “boundless enthusiasm and compassion,” Chris said. Bill was proud of being a teacher and proud of being a UFT member, his son recalled.
During his retirement, Bill’s love of jazz guitar blossomed, and he joined The Carol Griffin Trio with close friends Carol Griffin and Dave Dragos. Their performances enlivened many venues.
Bill was a devoted family man, marrying the love of his life, Mary Ann Hennessy, in 1974. They raised two children together, Chris and Katie, until his wife developed multiple myeloma and died in 2016. Bill wholeheartedly embraced his role as “POP-O” to his five grandchildren, Chris said.
“Bill lived each day with a resilient sense of humor, believing that laughter could illuminate both joyous moments and difficult times,” Chris said.
Bill is survived by his children, Chris and Katie, and grandchildren Maya, Riley, Liam, Logan and Lily.
His family asks that contributions to Bill’s memory be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
Bill was on the UFT Executive Board when I was chapter leader at Fort Hamilton High School. He exhibited an inspiring union spirit and encouraged staff members to get involved in chapter concerns Bill was a team player who had a keen understanding of the need for a strong union presence in our building. He was a gentleman, a scholar and a friend to all.
Rest in peace dear Bill