Former Lombard trustee succumbs to cancer at 64

Former Lombard village trustee Jack O'Brien died Tuesday night after a brief battle with cancer. He was 64.

Long active in the community in a variety of capacities, O'Brien won the District 3 seat on the village board in 2005. He lost his re-election bid in April and was replaced by Zachary Wilson.

O'Brien cast one of the controversial deciding votes to demolish the DuPage Theatre after years of debate about the facility's future in March 2007.

However, village officials believe he will best be remembered for his involvement with the village's circulator bus program.

"He did have a particular passion to get the circulator system going," said Village Manager Dave Hulseberg. "He had a vision that he saw it would be a way for the community to get together and move throughout the area."

The village has received funding for the program and delivery of the Pace buses is expected soon so that the program will start some time in 2010, Hulseberg said.

O'Brien served on a number of village board committees during his time with the group and was the former chairman of the transportation and safety committee.

His community activities included service on the DuPage County Circulator Task Force, the Lombard Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Lombard Jaycees and the Tri-Town YMCA Indian Guides, according to information released by the village Wednesday.

He is survived by five children, two grandchildren and his wife, Brigitte O'Brien, who is the village clerk.

Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1501 S. Main St.