Al O'Brien

Gregory Alan O'Brien, known to everyone as Al and Big Al, an athlete, family man, mentor, businessman, and community icon, passed away Thursday at his home in Tuolumne. He was 71. 

About Al O'Brien - From The Union Democrats Guy McCarthy (with some edits and additions): 

Al was born October 23, 1949 in Corvallis, Oregon, to Patricia and Tilton O'Brien, while they were attending Oregon State University. Al was the second born after Janet, then was followed by 3 brothers: Kevin, Don and Mike.  Al chose to change his name from Gregory to Al in the 2nd grade! His father was an engineer and the O'Brien family moved often for jobs with Bechtel Corp Refinery and Chemical. Moving around the United States and Canada, O'Brien learned to ice skate and play ice hockey on ponds and rinks in places like Saskatchewan and Calgary in Canada, and in several northern states. His father eventually accepted a position at Bechtel's headquarters in San Francisco, assuring all 5 kids could attend the same high school, Crestmoor High School in San Bruno. O'Brien played baseball and basketball, was in theater and student government, holding SBA and class office positions, as well as chief justice of the Student Court and graduation speaker. 

In 1968 he went to UC Santa Barbara to play baseball and study history. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Before his senior year was over, he had left school and married Melissa “Mo” Borders. The two bought a condo in the bay area, where they had both spent their high school years. A few years later they would move to Twain Harte, where they had daughters Molly in 1979 and Paige in 1981. One month after the birth of Molly, O'Brien was diagnosed with cancer. He was a 40 year survivor.  Mo, known to many as the face painter, was also an active community member. She painted faces at the Christmas craft fair in Sonora and Auburn for many years and at the Strawberry Music Festival, among other craft fairs around the state. They often volunteered to set-up or take down stages, decorations, etc. for the many fairs and festivals, bringing their girls along to help.  Mo went on to create the “Biologues” women in history program before passing in a tragic accident in 2006.

O'Brien played baseball for the University of California, Santa Barbara Gauchos, coached baseball at Summerville High School, started a restaurant supply business, opened and ran multiple Mama's Take and Bake Pizza businesses (Sonora, Oakdale, Arnold, Merced & Atwater), opened and co-owned Snowshoe Brewing Company in Arnold and Sonora and led the marketing and entertainment at Black Oak Casino for more than a decade. Throughout all, he volunteered for the Strawberry Music Festival and several other organizations. He was also a spark plug catalyst for years with the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Posse.

Al was a gregarious, easy to know, outgoing leader who mentored young people in their business ventures, placed his family first, and helped facilitate countless community events and projects behind the scenes, his former employers, employees, friends and loved ones said Friday. Ron Patel, the former CEO at Black Oak said, He cared about the people he worked with, he cared about the tribe and the whole community. He just gave gave gave. He gave a lot of his time, as many hours outside the casino as he did in his marketing job. He was known by so many people in Tuolumne County. His knowledge of the music industry and music history, that was one of the many strings in his bow.

Al loved teaching his girls that hard work pays off, he hired both of them to work at the pizza places and Snowshoe, and loved to recall the time that he and Paige ran the whole dining floor for dinner service at Snowshoe together. Though passionate about athletics and academics, he always appreciated art, history and theatre, and when not attending SRT plays, he’d take the family to San Francisco to see museums or Broadway shows with a nice dinner (unless his daughters selected to dine at Denny’s).  He also was proud to show up for most of his daughter’s games, having a schedule that allowed him to do that. 

In 2001, Al was able to officially graduate from UC Santa Barbara, surprising his daughter Molly by walking with her and receiving his degree in the same commencement ceremony. He continued to be very involved in his daughter’s lives, loving to hear their stories of travel and fun, and successes with work throughout the years. He was also very happy to gain a son-in-law in 2018 when Molly got married.  

In 2007, Al met, fell in love with, and married Kelli Noteman, a county native and teacher at Sonora Elementary. The two enjoyed participating in the arts and activities of Tuolumne County and especially riding their horses with friends in the Sierras. Al really didn't know how he got so lucky there. He was so proud of his entire family. 

O’Brien also survived CLL going into remission in 2019, so he was a two time survivor!  He would encourage any cancer patient to keep fighting. Don’t give up.  

Al O’Brien thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated his life, his family and his friends.

His survivors include his wife Kelli Noteman O’Brien; daughters Molly O’Brien (Michael), and Paige O’Brien. Sister Janet Houlihan (Bill); Brothers Kevin O’Brien (Debbie), Don O’Brien (Anne), Michael O’Brien (Lonnie), Aunt Arlene Murphy, and many nieces and nephews.