Spring 2003 - Fenwick High School

One of Dan O’Brien’s many teams. If you can identify the swimmers or the year,
please let us know.
REMEMBERING DAN O’BRIEN
By Timothy J. Rooney ’75
Chairman, Board of Trustees
With the passing of Mr. O’Brien – a true Fenwick
legend – the first 73 years of the history of
Fenwick Athletics has now been written. He was
there for almost all of it, and helped make a great deal of
it himself.
All Fenwick athletes whom Mr. O’Brien coached or trained
have an enormous respect for him. That’s why he continues
to be addressed as “Mr. O’Brien,” even by those of us in
advanced middle age. I experienced Mr. O’Brien as the
football team trainer in the mid-70s. Generations of
football players practicing at the House of Studies have his
golf swing memorized. And none of
us will ever forget his unique
method of teaching us toughness
with his immortal advice: “Take two
aspirin and see me in the morning.”
But what all Fenwick athletes
remember most about Mr. O’Brien is
what he taught us by his lessons –
Mr. O’Brien’s…
“code unwaveringly emphasized
honor, loyalty, hard work,
family and Fenwick.”
and indeed his example – on how to
conduct ourselves as Fenwick Friars.
He lived according to a certain and
simple code of values, and he
expected us as Friars to do the same.
That code unwaveringly emphasized
honor, loyalty, hard work,
family and Fenwick. I believe that of
all Mr. O’Brien’s awards, honors and
accolades, he would say his most
significant accomplishment has been
instilling these values in the many
generations of Fenwick students and athletes who came
under his tutelage. And in that way,
Mr. O’Brien’s legend clearly lives on.
God bless you, Mr. O’Brien, and thank
you from all of us from the bottom of
our hearts.
27
FENWICK