John O’Brien, Former Radio Host, Passes Away
John O’Brien, a well-known former radio host, has passed away.
According to Western Mass News, O’Brien died late Sunday night or early Monday morning after a prolonged 14-year fight with cancer.
O’Brien had a distinguished career in radio broadcasting, which spanned over four decades, and was recently honored by being inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He gained widespread popularity as a host on the morning show Bax & O’Brien on Rock 102. In a recent segment on 22News InFocus hosted by Patrick Berry, O’Brien spoke about his career and his battle with cancer, sharing that he had been diagnosed with melanoma four times.
O’Brien revealed in the interview approximately a month ago that he was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, a severe form of cancer that had spread to various organs and was classified as stage four. He mentioned that his physician had given him a prognosis of six to 12 months to live and that he was under hospice care.
Rock 102’s tribute in O’Brien’s obituary highlighted his philanthropic efforts, particularly his initiation of the Mayflower Marathon Food Drive 32 years ago. This event collects non-perishable food items for those in need. The latest drive, which occurred this week from Monday to Wednesday, successfully raised over $260,000 for The Open Pantry.
O’Brien was an alumnus of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting and had recently ventured into podcasting with OB Negative on iHeartRadio. Last year, he was also inducted into the Massachusetts Radio Hall of Fame. In his memory, Rock 102 is urging people to contribute to the Open Pantry.
Mike Baxendale, who currently hosts on Rock 102 and collaborated with O’Brien on the Mayflower Marathon, reminisced about their partnership. He told Western Mass News, “We were just two people who loved this community, and it meant a great deal to us to be able to offer help. It’s heartbreaking to continue without him.”
O’Brien’s obituary describes him as having a distinctive personality that was central to his appeal. He openly discussed various topics on air, delighting some and displeasing others. Despite his typically pessimistic outlook, he often helped listeners navigate their own life challenges by sharing his personal struggles.
John O’Brien leaves behind his mother, Rita Langlois; his stepfather, John Langlois; his brothers Tim O’Brien and his wife Kym, and Dan O’Brien. He was preceded in death by his father, John J. O’Brien. He also leaves a loving legacy with his nieces and nephews, Eric, Kevin, Colin, and Sarah O’Brien.
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