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Conan O’Brien’s Parents, Trailblazers in Medicine and Law, Pass Away Three Days Apart
Dec
Conan O’Brien‘s parents, Dr. Thomas O’Brien and Ruth Reardon O’Brien, both renowned figures in their respective fields, passed away this week within three days of each other. Married for 66 years, their lifelong partnership came to a poignant close as they both died at their home in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Dr. Thomas O’Brien, 95, was a distinguished epidemiologist whose pioneering work in infectious disease shaped global medical responses. His wife, Ruth Reardon O’Brien, 92, was a trailblazing attorney who shattered barriers for women in law, becoming the second female partner at Boston’s esteemed Ropes & Gray law firm.
A Legacy of Excellence
The couple met in Worcester, Massachusetts, where they were both born. Married in 1958, they raised six children — Neal, Luke, Conan, Kate, Jane, and Justin — and welcomed nine grandchildren into their growing family.
Ruth O’Brien graduated from Yale Law School in 1956, one of only four women in her class. She rose to prominence at Ropes & Gray, balancing her groundbreaking career with the responsibilities of raising a bustling household.
Dr. Thomas O’Brien was a Harvard Medical School graduate who served as the inaugural director of the infectious diseases division at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He dedicated his career to combating antimicrobial resistance, cofounding the World Health Organization‘s Collaborating Centre for Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance. His work took him across the globe, training professionals and advancing medical responses to viral outbreaks.
Reflections from Conan
Conan O’Brien, the beloved comedian and former late-night host, spoke to The Boston Globe about his parents’ extraordinary lives. Reflecting on his father, Conan remarked:
“Science has said there’s no such thing as perpetual motion, but my father was proof that that was wrong… My father was in constant motion. And he was interested in everything — absolutely everything.”
Conan also credited his father’s love of comedy for influencing his own career:
“The loudest I’ve ever heard anybody laugh was sitting next to him in a theater watching Peter Sellers in a Pink Panther movie.”
Of his mother, Conan fondly recalled her wit, tenacity, and sense of humor as she navigated life as a working mother of six.
A Lasting Impact
Ruth O’Brien reflected in 2017 on balancing a demanding career and family:
“The other mothers thought it was a riot, that Tom O’Brien was doing these carpools and was one of the girls… He just thought it was a joke, and the kids seemed to love it.”
The O’Brien household was described by Conan as “lovely madness,” a testament to his parents’ ability to nurture a warm and dynamic family environment while excelling in their groundbreaking careers.
Their passing leaves a profound legacy in their fields and within their family, a testament to their remarkable lives and enduring love.
