John O’Brien passed away peacefully at home in Pagosa Springs on Oct. 4, 2025. John was born on Oct. 27, 1937, to Edward (Ted) and Louise O’Brien in Santa Rita, N.M. He spent most of his youth in Roswell, N.M., where he developed a lifelong love of Scouting. While in high school in Roswell, John saved a child from drowning during a flash flood. He went on to attend New Mexico State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces, N.M. While in college, his U.S. Army Reserve unit was activated during the Cuban Missile Crisis and he spent nine months serving on active duty. John went on to graduate from NMSU with an undergraduate degree in business and spent several years in banking before starting at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
John met Mary Frances (Fran) in Los Alamos and they married in 1968 and moved to Pojoaque, N.M., in 1973. While hesitant, John accepted Fran’s desire to have horses and he built a barn, corrals and outbuildings that at times also housed pigs, turkeys, chickens, guinea hens and pigeons. In Pojoaque, John once again became involved in Scouting as an adult leader and enjoyed seeing the development of his scouts and took pride in their accomplishments.
In 1993, John retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory and, in 2001, John and Fran moved to Pagosa Springs, Colo. John had a generous spirit and looked for ways to help others. In Pagosa, he joined the Knights of Columbus and enjoyed the friendship and service of his fellow knights. John often had a small clipboard in hand and enjoyed working on projects. He helped create the Stations of the Cross Prayer Garden and sparked the creation of the columbarium at the John Paul II Catholic Church campus. John loved socializing with his “coffee club” gang until the very end.
John is survived by his wife, Fran; children Patrick (Alicia), Greg and Deborah (Mike); grandchildren Liam, Brigid, Caileigh and Emma; brother Walter; and many nephews and nieces.
A celebration of John’s life will be held on Friday, Oct. 10, at the John Paul II Catholic Church in Pagosa Springs. The rosary will begin at 9:30 a.m., Mass at 10 a.m. and the interment of his ashes will follow Mass. A reception will follow in the narthex of John Paul II Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in John’s memory to the Guadalupana Society. For information on donations, contact Kindra Martinez of the Guadalupana Society at (505) 328-7645.
