Albert J. O'Brien

Albert J. O'Brien, 84

North Greenbush - Albert J. O'Brien, 84, died Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at Samaritan Hospital in Troy after a brief illness.

Born in Troy, he was the son of the late Joseph O'Brien and Mary (McGaughnea) O'Brien and husband for 60 years of Jane Baylis O'Brien.

He had resided in the Troy area all his life and was a 1942 graduate of Troy High School, where he was active in football and basketball.

Mr. O'Brien was employed as an engineer for the New York Central Railroad and AMTRAK from 1942-85.

He was a communicant of St. Jude the Apostle Church in Wynantskill, and a prisoner of war in Germany during World War II having served in the 485th Bomb Group. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War as a tech sergeant. He was shot down on his 35^th mission and spent six months in a German hospital and four months in a German prison camp. Mr. O'Brien was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three clusters, Purple Heart, POW Medal, ETO Medal with Nine Battle Stars, New York State Medal with Three Clusters, Greek Government Liberation Medal and the Destroyed Unit Citation Medal.

He was a life member of American Ex-Prisoners of War, the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Troy High School Hall of Fame and a former member of the Locomotive Engineers.

Survivors in addition to his wife include his daughter, Patricia M. O'Brien of Cohoes. He was uncle of Alice Cusack Bosselman of St. Augustine, FL, George Cusack of Ballston Lake and Matthew, Michael, James and Mary Maguire. He was the brother-in-law of Joan and Bruce Maguire of St. Louis, MO. He was predeceased by a sister, Florence Cusack.

A memorial mass will be held Saturday at 10am at St. Jude the Apostle Church, Brookside Avenue in Wynantskill with Rev. Salvatore Rodino, Pastor, officiating.

Contributions may be made in memory of Albert O'Brien to the Salvation Army Troy Corps 410 River Street Troy, NY 12180 or Northeast Health Foundation 2224 Burdett Avenue Troy, NY 12180 or St. Jude the Apostle Church Brookside Avenue Wynantskill, NY 12198.

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