by Edward A. O’Brien Death, Obituary – 66 years old, most recently of North Reading and now residing in Andover, Massachusetts, passed away suddenly on January 8th, 2023, with his wife and children at his side. He had served as the Fire Chief of the North Reading Fire Department for many years before retiring. His wife Stacey, his son Sean O’Brien and his fiancée Kate Maguire, his daughter Hilary Pennacchio and her husband Michael, as well as his brother William O’Brien and his wife Birgitta O’Brien, are among those who will carry on Ed’s legacy after his passing.
His older brother Nelson P. O’Brien and his older sister Gaye O’Brien both passed away before he did. It was his parents, Nelson and Mildred Messenger, who gave birth to him. Ed’s birth took place in Bangor, Maine on July 9, 1956, but when he was a little child, the family relocated to North Reading. Ed received his diploma from North Reading High School in 1974 and his bachelor’s degree in Fire Science and Protection from Salem State University in 1991. Ed began his schooling by attending North Reading High School. In 1974, he was given a position with the North Reading Fire Department as a Call Firefighter, and in 1977, he was given a position with the department’s permanent staff.
In 1991, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and in 1993, he was promoted to Chief of Department, a position he held until his retirement in 2005. He was very proud of his service as the president of the North Reading Firefighters Local 1857 from 1980 to 1988. At the time, he was a prominent figure in the local labor movement and served as President of the North Reading Firefighters Local 1857. He volunteered for the team for a total of twenty years and was a founding member of the Metro-Boston Critical Incident Stress Management Team.
This team offers peer support to first responders who have been exposed to traumatic experiences. Ed was a member of the CISM team and responded to both the fire at the Worcester Cold Storage and the one at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Ed was a proud member of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association. He was also a member of the International Association of Firefighters. In addition to that, he was a part of the National Ski Patrol.
In addition to his responsibilities as a professional, Ed was an active outdoorsman who frequently spent time with his lifelong friend Vincent Vullo engaging in activities such as hunting, fishing, and surfing. Spending time with his wife Stacey and working on his house were two of his favorite things to do in his spare time. During his retirement, he and Stacey had the opportunity to travel to many other places. At the same time, he was also the owner of Cambridge Used Bicycles, which is a well-known bicycle store and service shop located on McGrath Highway.
