oseabee is gone

Tonight as I was on the internet I recived an IM form oseabee (Bill O'Brien) but it turned out that it was not Bill. It was his ladie friend! And she told me "Last evening around eleven Bill had a massive heart attack and died".

I for one will surly miss him as I'm sure many of you will.

She said "He sure loved lighthouses and loved the people who love lighthouses!!" she also said "His ashes will be spread around the lighthouse in Chatham, Mass."

Stephanie

What sad news about OSEABEE. When Bill had a health problem last year, we all ralled to stay in touch and pray for him.

Shortcake has sent me the IM text with Freda, Bill's lady friend. She indicated that all the support we gave Bill kept him going and helped him make it.

Bill and Freda were in FL getting ready for the cruise they planned to take. She says Bill had just bought a new car on Wed.

It seems from what I know about him in this last year he lived life to the fullest.

Bill will be missed around here, for sure.

We'll try to find out details on the service for Bill and send some flowers from the WACKOs.

I'm shocked and saddened by the news of Bill O'Brien's passing, especially in light of his splendid recovery from the stroke he suffered last year. I spoke with him in the hospital back then, and looked forward to meeting him in person at the Winter Regional.

He will be missed there as well as in these forums.

Bruce

How sad to hear that Bill has passed...He really came back strong after his last attack...from what he has said and what others have said about him he was really enjoying himself. Freda if you read these posts, you must know how happy you have made him over this past year. His last post was that he was going on the cruise with you. I never met him in person but truly felt like I knew him. John, you are so right he will be sorely missed here.
Ruthie

Wow,

How sad such news is. Bill will be missed indeed. He was one that didn't hold back anything. He spoke his mind and that is what I realy liked about him. There will be a big hole in the forums without him. I only regret that I never got the chance to meet him in person. May God be with your soul Bill! I know I will see you again some day!

Dale

I'm shocked and truly saddened with this tragic news about Bill. It's hard to believe he is no longer with us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bill's family.

I will always think of him on my visits to Chatham Light. Rest in peace, my friend.

Bob & Lorna

Sad Day it is! Bill will certainly be missed by his family and his lighthouse family. Our prayers will be with him and his family.

Bert & Sharon

I never knew Bill or had any contact with him other then to read his posts. I do know that he seemed to tell it like it was and he didn't appear bashful in any way. I will miss his directness and wit.

Rich

Our prayers go out to Freda and the rest of Bill's family.

I also did not know Bill well, but from reading his posts, I would have to believe that there is probably no place he would be happier for eternity than Chatham.

Rest in Peace, Bill.

I too am saddened by Bill's passing.

I never met him but he was definitely in a class by himself. His posts will be sorely missed here on the Collectors Forums.

It is gratifying, however, that he did not let his previous medical problems keep him from living life to the fullest he could.

Our condolences and best wishes go out to Freda and the rest of bill's family and friends.

Dennis

I too am stunned. I also did not know Bill personally, but have read his posts on this forum. I do know he enjoyed his lighthouse travels. It is a sad day when we lose a member of our Collectors Forum and a fellow Lighthouse lover. He seemed to be returning to health and I am glad that he had the chance to enjoy his life over the last year. My sympathy and condolences to Freda and Bill's family and friends.

Suzanne Murphy

I've only been reading the forums lately, and of course enjoyed Bill's posts like everyone here.
He will be missed. It's amazing how like family we become, even without meeting in person.

I am so sorry Freda for your loss, and to the rest of his family.

God Bless,
Pam

Add another to the list of those who will miss Bill's posts and wit. He was a character that will be missed by all of us. My thoughts and prayers to Freda and his family.

Rich

Jeff and I were saddend to read the post regarding the passing of Bill. Last year at the reunion he was missed due to the heatlh problems then. Since then he had made such a great recovery and truly seemed to be enjoying life again.

Our sympathy goes out to Freda and his family. He will be missed by all of us.

Mary and Jeff

I am truly saddened by the passing of my old buddy. We shared many a late night moment on the internet instant messaging back and forth. The only good thing is, I know he is in a better place. We sang the Navy Hymn today in church, and now I know why.

Seeya later on the high seas Bill!!

I am shocked and very saddened to hear of Bill's Passing. As I read the news I couldn't help but look over at a picture of Bill and Myself standing on the front porch of St. Augustine Lighthouse, that I have displayed in my collection of lighthouse trip photos. Bill you will be missed.

How sad to hear this news about our friend Bill. I know he really enjoyed the time he spent traveling over the past year. He was even thoughtful enough to have sent me extra photos of some of the lighthouses he'd seen in Nova Scotia.
Will have to visit Chatham Lighthouse one of these days and say hello.

My sympathy goes out to Freda and Bill's family as well.

Sue

I had a chance to chat with Freda this evening and she suggested that in lieu of flowers, we make a donation to a lighthouse.

Do we have a volunteer to collect donations on behalf of his on-line friends?

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

I will always remember how proud he was when he posted the picture of himself in his uniform that still fit him... I will miss his candor, he was a very good person and my friend...

Sure John, I'll volunteer. Do we know which lighthouse? I'd need the particulars for that.

I just found out about Bill and was very shocked to hear that he passed away. I was just talking to him and Freda on Tuesday night and wished him a happy 75th birthday. I used to talk a lot on instant message with Bill. He loved to go to Nova Scotia and visit. I never met him in person but he was a friend to me. He will be missed by everyone.
Hal

Mombo,

Post your mailing address and I'll get a donation check out to you ASAP. Thanks for volunteering. I know Bill would thank you too!

May I make a suguestion? I can't remember which Lighthouse it was, but I remember a post on here sometime back that was asking for donations to buy a brick that would be inscribed and used to restore the light. We could have it read "In Memory of Bill O'Brien by his Wacko Friends". Just a thought.

Quite the sad news to learn about Bill's passing. Over the past year or so he would IM with me when he was on-line. He has had quite the year, and Freda was a very major part of his life. One thing we can all learn from Bill is to live every day to it's fullest, as he has this past year or so. He will be missed, but I like Shortcake's idea. We can all help to honor Bill and his love of lighthouses by contributing to this project.

I will keep Bill's family and Freda in my prayers.

Dave

I IM'd with Freda this evening. She told me that she and Bill 'met' in a Christian Chatroom and that that evening he stated he would like to spend the rest of his life with her. That was just before his stroke last year.

She acknowledged that he did in fact spend the rest of his life with her. This evening she has been packing up his Harbour Lights and crying a bit. Both she and Bill were regular church attendees and went to Bible study during the week.

Thanks Sue for volunteering. For those who knew Bill from on-line and chats, may I suggest a $10 gift? Of course you are free to contribute what you would like.

A TRIBUTE TO OUR DEAR FRIEND "OSEABEE" AKA BILL
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free...
I took his hand when I heard Him call...
I turned my back and left it all...
If my parting has left a void...
Then fill it with remembered joy...
My life's been full, I savored much...
Good friends, good times a loved one's touch...
A friendship shared, a laugh a kiss...
Ah yes, these things, I too will miss...
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief...
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief...
Lift up your hearts and share with me...
God wanted me now, He set me free...

I remember Bill getting sick before the Reunion. And everyone wearing his WACKO badge because he couldn't make it to the Reunion. I then remember his almost miraculous recovery, (Bill) meeting his 'lady friend', and his last year whirlwind lighthousing in Nova Scotia and Cape Cod.
Bill can fittingly be remembered at his lighthouse Photo Gallery on the Harbour Lights Website. http://www.harbourlights.com/galleries/bill_obrien.htm
Although I never met him in person, I will always remember Bill as a friend on the Forums who helped to enrich our love of lighthouses.

Here are Bill's last three posts on the Forum.

"Hi to you all great reading your good wishes and I am home for a little bit any way.leaving again for our cruiseon Oct,18th for 10 days.Had a great summer."Bill O'Brien aka oseabee 9/23

"Hi Gary:
Just returned to Fla.You might for a short visit we are leaving for our cruise on Oct.18th.If you are putting out a book on your photos put me down for one will catch you later in your busy schedule " 9/25

"Hi there short cake.I'll have my check in the mail by Sunday for 1 pin and I may make it to miami,see you there Bill O'Brien aka oseabee."9/27

You think Harbour Lights could do this in Bill's memory?

I am so sorry to hear about Bill. Just this weekend I was looking through photos that he had sent me over a year ago. He was a wonderful person with a very interesting history. He served his country well and loved his family. I know his grandson will miss him.

Joanne

I was so sorry to hear about Bill's passing. Back when I was just "lurking" I came upon his postings and always looked forward to reading more of the interesting things that he had to say. I found his obituary in the Bradenton Herald and thought some of you might be interested in reading it. WWW.bradenton.com/mld/bradentonherald/news/obituaries/4173642/htm
Click on the first entry under Previous Obituaries since it was in yesterday's paper.
Terry

Thanks, Terry. Here's the text from the obituary:

Freda's address is:

Freda Small
2499 Hwy 1
Aylesford, Nova Scotia Canada
B0P 1C0

She may not be back at that address until Nov.

From www.whitepages.com I've located these addresses if you wish to send a note.

Kukoda, Pricilla
501 49th St. E
Bradenton FL 34208

O'Brien, Phillip
129 Sea
Dennisport, MA 02639

O'Brien, Patrick S
601 Plantation Dr
Rincon, GA 31326

Ruddock, Penny
54 Holly Dr
Chatham, MA 02659

WTG John you did good! Thanks!

What a sad surprise to be away for a few days and see that Bill is gone. It's a sad time here in the forums. Bill will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

God bless Bill, Rest in Peace Buddy.

Randy, Karen and Andy

If anyone here's anything about the date of the Memorial Service in Chatham, please post it here. I would like to be there if I can make it.

Bob

So sorry to hear about Bill. I enjoyed his posts and his postcards in the exchanges. Never had a chance to talk to him about our Nova Scotia trip this past summer. He will be missed.

Donna

Bill was a very dear friend to me and also his son Patrick and girlfriend Freda. Although we never met we shared a special friendship. We exchanged several postcards and other small lighthouse items through the mail. I am thinking about traveling to Chatham Lighthouse for the services. I am from Toledo, Ohio if anyone would like to join in on a weekend trip,I have a van that seats 7. Please let me know. My E mail is KayP52066@aol.com. Kay

We were so sorry to hear about Bill's passing. We enjoyed reading his posts in the Forum, his postcards in the postcard exchanges and his participation in the NTFG.

Freda and the rest of Bill's family are in our thoughts and prayers.

I am sorry to hear of the passing of our fellow Wacko Bill. I have been off online for a couple of days and was saddened to find that Bill will no longer be with us. Though I did not know this man well, I enjoyed reading and replying to his posts. Knowing that a fellow Lighthouse Lover, like Bill, has passed on is like watching a beautiful Lighthouse fall to the sea during a storm - sad and heartbreaking. Best of Luck to his "Lady Friend" and his family, may they get through this as easily as possibly. Remember the good times and he will always be with you.

BonnieJean

So sorry to hear that Bill hass passed away. I truly enjoyed his posts. He always seemed to be able to answer any questions I had regarding ligthouses. Although I never had the chance to meet Bill I knew he was special when all his Wacko friends wore his ID at the reunion and even signed it as a souvenier for him. He will truly be missed!

Like the rest of you, the news of Bill's death has come as a great shock. Jerry and I were gone over the weekend to his mother's funeral in NC and I have just logged on and could not believe what I was reading.

Bill was a true friend. The Tampa Bay HL group has enjoyed his company for several years and could always depend on Bill for his honest thoughts and dry wit. So many memories are being remembered as I write...I will miss him tremendously. One thing I do know, he loved Chatham light and the cause of all lighthouses.

Derith

Reading what others have said about "our Oseabee" the past few days, it's so unbelievable that this has happened.

Remember all of Bill's delightful postings, and when a remembrance is needed, search for his postings, and know that he is shining a bright light for us!

Thanks Bill!

Sorry I am so late with this, but I have been gone so long I lost the forums. I had to get the address from Derith.
Priscilla (Bill's daughter) called on Sat & told me of his death & requested no flowers. She requested donations to restore the lighthouse of your choice. In reading this post I think the brick is also a very good idea.
I also will miss him very much. He was a very kind & gentle man. Our prayers are with all the ones he left behind.

TGIFIF

My heart is saddened to hear of Bill's death. I had the honor of wearing his badge at the Baltimore Reunion and could only guess as to how he felt to miss it.

The Forum and the Wackos will miss him more...

I am sorry to hear about Bill and will miss his directness and his depth of experience. While I have never met him I feel that we have suffered a great loss in the lighthouse community. Calm seas Bill.

Chuck