Rodger Bernard O'Brien

Rodger Bernard O’Brien, Sr. (“O’B”), resident of San Jose, CA passed away peacefully on December 24, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones after a brave battle with Acute Alzheimer’s/Dementia. He was 90 years old. 

Rodger was born August 20, 1934, in Minneapolis, MN, the youngest of the late Almira Cecilia Cook and William Joseph O’Brien’s five children. His education began in Catholic parochial school in Minneapolis, followed by time in Los Angeles when his family arrived by train to California after the war in 1944. His family moved to Santa Clara when Rodger was 14, where he entered the seminary for a few years. He graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory in1953, where he excelled in both academics and football. Rodger spent four years in the Coast Guard and was honorably discharged in January of 1959. 

In 1960 Rodger met the love of his life, Joanne Spigler, in Palo Alto where she was living with fellow Stanford nurses. They married in 1962 and began their family in 1964 while Rodger was simultaneously working at Sanco Pipeline Co. and attending college. Already a father of two, he graduated from San Jose State University with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1966 and he and Joanne proudly raised their four children in a household filled with Catholic values. 

After completing his degree, Rodger and his brother, Keith, founded O'Brien Contractors, Ltd. After many successful years, he retired in 1980 to focus full time on his growing kids, their sports, his many hobbies, traveling with Joanne, and eventually the grandchildren.

An exceptional community member, he was happy to volunteer thousands of hours to his parish of over 50 years, St. Martin of Tours, where all his children and 6 of 11 grandchildren attended school. He loved to spend his time at Bellarmine football games, going skiing and boating, and taking his family and friends camping at Lake Clementine. Rodger always included dogs in the family homes, loving at least 10 throughout his years. He was an avid lover of music, inspired by his mother who taught singing and music during his early years. He played the trumpet while in the Coast Guard, and the violin, piano, guitar and harmonica at various times in his life. He took care to pass on his love of music to his children and grandchildren. 

He always made time for family, pouring all his energy into raising strong and independent children. 

Rodger is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joanne, their children, Denise, Cecilia (Hugh, dec) Rodger, Jr. (Lynn), and William (Jennifer), and his 11 grandchildren: Brittany, Evan, Delaney, Maggie, Shane, Paige, Grace, Brennan, Kylee, Buddy, and Kelsey. 

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at St. Martin of Tours Parish Church, San Jose. Decade of the Holy Rosary at 9:45 a.m. Private interment will take place at a later date to honor Rodger’s Coast Guard military service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donation to a charity of your choice.