William O'Brien III ’55

In July 2010, after being in remission from leukemia for 22 years, Bill, believing that he had pulled a back muscle, canceled his golf game. A scan and blood tests revealed he had acute leukemia. On the morning of July 31, 2010, he went to the oncology wing and died beautifully and peacefully at 1 p.m. His wife, Peggy, and son John were at his bedside.  

Bill was a varsity swimmer at Lawrenceville and swam backstroke as captain of Princeton’s varsity. His senior roommates in Rockefeller Suite were Tom Terry, George Harris, Chip Parks, Frank Jackson, Bill Frank, and Steb Chandor. A mechanical engineering major, Bill was a member of Cottage Club and ASME. After four years spent flying on Navy carriers, Bill went into computers.  

His greatest achievement was meeting  

and marrying Peggy McVey. Golf ran a close second.  

To Peggy, daughter Chris, sons John and Ted, and eight grandchildren, the class sends heartfelt sympathy for the suddenness of this great loss.