John O’Brien: An Appreciation

‘Unique.’

When pressed to describe John O’Brien, the radio personality and community activist who died Sunday after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer, with just one word, that’s the one Dave Oldread, former general manager at Rock 102, where O’Brien was a fixture for more than 30 years, chose.

And he put a considerable amount of thought into the assignment because there are many words that come to mind when one thinks of O’Brien — like ‘opinionated’ and ‘confrontational,’ or ‘complicated’ and ‘complex.’ Others that work include ‘fun,’ ‘serious,’ and especially ‘genuine.’ Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno called him a ‘lovable curmudgeon.’ OK, that’s two words.

But ‘unique’ works best.

Indeed, O’Brien was one of a kind, a true character, who was never afraid to speak his mind or ruffle some feathers — whether he was on the air, playing golf with you in a charity tournament, or sitting next to you at a Patriots game.

“When I would tell someone I worked at Rock 102, the first question anyone would ever ask was, ‘what’s it like to work with John O’Brien?’ or ‘what’s John O’Brien like?” Oldread said. “And, of course, that was a complicated question. I would tell anyone who was asking that John was the same person — who you got on the air was who you got off the air.”

And who you got was a true radio personality who would go on to become one half, along with Mike Baxendale, of perhaps this region’s most famous and enduring radio team.

Indeed, Bax and O’Brien were a morning tradition in this region, staying together for 25 years — unheard of in the radio industry — and earning their way into the Massachusetts Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

But you also got someone who was involved in his community, lending his time, talent, wit, and opinions to many causes and institutions, from the Spirit of Springfield to the Mayflower Marathon (which he co-founded), during which he and Bax would stay on the air for 52 hours, filling the time with an eclectic mix of guests and endless stories.

Fittingly, the marathon is going on right now, and many area residents are making a point of making donations in O’Brien’s honor. That’s a fitting way to remember someone who will never be forgotten.

He was, in a word, ‘unique,’ and his strong, clear voice will certainly be missed.