Hugh J. O’Brien, 90, of East Wareham, formerly of South Easton, passed away Friday October 7 at home. Hugh was the husband the late Gloria (Kinsman).

Born in Gloucester, MA the son of the late Hugh J. and Alice (Carroll) O’Brien, Hugh grew up in Watertown, attended Watertown public schools, and graduated from Watertown High School. He later attended M.I.T. and graduated cum laude from Boston University School of Management in 1943.

Upon graduation he joined the Army and received his commission from Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. After assignments as a recruit trainer in Florida and England, he fought across France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany as the Executive Officer of Co. K, 314^th Infantry Regiment, 79^th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the European Theater Medal with 3 Battle Stars.

After his division made the assault crossing of the Rhine River in March 1945, Hugh was seriously wounded by enemy shellfire and spent the next 12 months as a patient in Army hospitals in England and Cape Cod where he met his future wife. Later assignments included training officer in Alabama and North Carolina, Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of the 94^th Infantry Division, Assistant Professor of Military science at the University of Vermont, Chief of Public Information for the Army in Alaska, and instructor at the Army Information School in New York. He retired from active duty as a Major at the end of the Korean War.

The family settled in South Easton, Mass. and he joined M.B. Claff packaging company in Brockton as a Sales Manager and later Director of Marketing.  In the mid-1960s he opened a subsidiary plant in Puerto Rico for the company.

In Easton he was a member and secretary of the town Finance Committee and was a founder of Holy Cross Church. In the early '70s he joined Boston Filter Co. as Director of Marketing.

In 1986 in the final stages of his wife Gloria’s illness, they moved to their summer home at White Island in East Wareham. After her death he pursued studies in gerontology at Stonehill College and served with Lighthouse Hospice as a caregiver and board member. He has been active in St. Patrick’s Church as an usher, lector, and member of the Parish Council. In 1995 he joined Community Resources Network as a board member and coordinator of volunteers. He also traveled extensively in Europe and the Middle East.

Hugh is survived by his children: H. John O’Brien III of Brockton, Peter W. O’Brien and his wife Camilla of Danville, Vermont, and Susan G. Carleton and her husband Jack of Brockton. His sisters; Elizabeth Brach of TX and Alicia Milligan of VA; His grandchildren Janice Genatossio and her husband Leo and Joanne McNeil and her husband Andrew; His great-grandchildren Jake, Nick, Paige, and Lucy. Hugh is also survived by many loving relatives and friends. He is the brother of the late Eben O’Brien.

Funeral from the Wareham Village Funeral Home (5 Center Street) will be held Thursday Oct. 13, at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Saint Patrick’s Church, 82 High Street, Wareham. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.  Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 4-6 p.m. only. Interment will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.

Memorial gifts may be made to Damien’s Pantry, P.O. Box 111 Fairhaven, MA 02719-0111 or to the Community Resources Network, 75 High Street Wareham, MA 02571.

For online guestbook, visit warehamvillagefuneralhome.com.