Dr. Robert Gene O'Briant, MD

Dr. Robert Gene O'Briant, MD

May 8, 1933 - July 4, 2024

Robert Gene O’Briant was born on May 8, 1933 in Promise City, Iowa, to parents Leone and Robert Lewis O’Briant. His early years were spent in Chicago until 1947 when the family moved to Reno. He graduated from Reno High School in 1951, married his high school sweetheart, Pauline Conedera, in January, 1953 and was inducted into the U.S. Army that same month. Upon returning after a 16 month tour of duty in Korea, he enrolled in College of the Pacific in Stockton and graduated in 1959 after which he attended Marquette University Medical School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He interned at San Joaquin General Hospital followed by five years of general practice in Stockton.  The family moved to the Bay Area in 1973 where Bob developed alcohol recovery programs in San Francisco, Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties. The final years of his career were spent with the California Department of Corrections as staff physician at Jamestown, Vacaville, San Quentin Prison, and finally retiring from Napa State Hospital.  

Bob had many interests: gardening, bird watching, travel (50 stares and seven continents), RVing all over North America from Alaska to Key West, Florida, spending time at the family cabin in Mi-Wuk Village and at the condominium on the North Shore of Oahu.  He authored three books: “Recovery from Alcoholism” (with Dr. Henry Lenard), “Birds of Loch Lomond Marina”, and “Elma, Born in a Boxcar”.  

He was pre-deceased by son Robert Mark and is survived by widow, Pauline, daughters, Laurie Parker, Lisa Boisclair, Susan Anderson, son Thomas, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.  

A Rosary/Visitation will be recited at 7:00 pm, Thursday, July 11, 2024 at St. Sylvester Chapel, 1115 Point San Pedro Road, San Rafael, CA.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 am, Friday, July 12, 2024 at St. Raphael Catholic Church, 1104 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, CA.  Entombment follows at Valley Memorial Park, Novato, California.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.  

 

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