Memorial celebration planned for activist and teacher Rob O’Brien
At Rutgers, Rob shaped students’ thinking in critical and creative directions. Students have circulated testimonials on his email list:
“I am a former student of Rob’s and he was one of my favorite professors during undergrad,” wrote one alumnus, “His classes were part of the reason I stayed in Anthropology and much of what he said during class has stayed with me to this day.”
Another graduate summarized Rob’s impact as follows: “There is so much knowledge I have obtained because of him and so much knowledge that he helped turn into wisdom within me that I was always grateful for.”
A third student wrote: “I visited him in the hospital in the fall of 2009, and found him on his computer, trying to explain Foucault to a student via webchat. Rob went so far out of his way to help all of us, even when he was hurting terribly.”
Rob left Rutgers on a medical leave in September 2011.
Rob died of a heart attack on June 1st, 2012, at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. His body was donated to Science Care, and his organs to Gift of Life. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Catherine Ann and Bob Hemmelstein, his father and step-mother, John and Carol O’Brien, his sisters, Staci Lea Bustle & Christine O’Brien Holland, and his brother, John Francis O’Brien III.
Information contributed by Christopher Carrico, Gabriela Vargas-Cetina, Staci Bustle, David M. Hughes and Anna Melton.
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So sorry to hear this sad news … I see he only lived about 6 blocks from me.
He will surely be missed.. but I am grateful for the fact that he has blessed me with some of his wisdom during the time he’s spent around me. He has really been an inspiration for me as well as the future of Dahlak… RIP, Rob, and say hi to Amare for me!
I am extremely sad to hear this news. I took one of Rob’s classes and it was life changing. He was truly an inspiration, and such an amazing and charismatic person with so much love to give.