Family, friends, and community members gathered Wednesday to pay their respects to Wawarsing town justice William L. O'Brien, at Loucks Funeral Home in Ellenville, where he received full military and police honors from multiple agencies. O'Brien, a 30-year Napanoch resident, and Town of Wawarsing justice, died February 21, 2008 at his home. He was 62.

"He was a young man, and he will be sorely missed," said Justice Wayne Lonstein of his long-time friend and coworker.

Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on July 25, 1945, to William and Jean Robinson O'Brien, Bill moved to the Hudson Valley when he was nine years old. He graduated from Middletown High School and joined the United States Air Force, where he was stationed in Bangor, Maine. Upon returning to the area, Bill began working for Grants before entering into the police academy. After graduation, he became a New York State trooper; he was a sniper, a part of the arson task force, and was eventually promoted to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation — the plainclothes detective branch of the New York State Police. He was in charge of the Kingston barracks.

In addition to being a retired B.C.I. investigator, and a Town of Wawarsing justice in his fourth term, Bill was an active community member. He was a member of the American Legion Cook Taylor Post #111, a P.E.R. of the Ellenville Elks Lodge #1971, a member of the Former Troopers Association, the Ulster County Magistrate Association, the Beaver Dam Club, and the Coastal Conservation Association.

He was also a beloved husband, father, and friend. His survivors include his wife, Claudia Wenig O'Brien at home; his daughters, Kelly Dunham and her husband R.J. of Middletown, and Kristy Irwin and her husband Kirk of Palm Bay, FL; his son, Patrick McAndrews and his wife Lisa of Ellenville; his brother, Patrick O'Brien and his wife Angie of Middletown; his sister, Paula Jean Lyons of Florida; his brothers-in-law, Joseph Wenig and his wife Debra of Dayton, OH, Greg Wenig and his wife Shari of Ellenville; six grandchildren, Colin McAndrews, Lacey Hamilton, Joseph Dunham III, Colby Stoher, Taylor Irwin, Sara Irwin; and several nieces and nephews.

"It's saddening for the whole court, and the employees. He was very professional," said Lonstein. Though there has been no interruption in the Town of Wawarsing court schedule, Town Hall was closed Wednesday from 10:30am to 1:30pm to honor Judge O'Brien's memory.

Because O'Brien was recently reelected this November, the town can choose to appoint a replacement, or they can leave the seat vacant.

"I think we should sit back and see where we are," continued Lonstein, "We're figuring out slowly how to go forward."

COMMENTS about this article (1)