Dr. Merrill Neilson O’Brien Jr. has gone to a place of quiet rest i Aug. 5, 2006. Merrill was born Oct. 4, 1920, in Camden, N.J., the son of Merrill N. O’Brien Sr. and Jeanette Rose O’Brien. He married Ruth L. Bussard on Dec. 27, 1956.

fMerrill had an interesting life with some exciting World War II travels and adventures. He served in the Merchant Marines during the early years of the war. Later, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and saw duty in the Pacific war zone.

He received a bachelor’s of science degree in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania in 1951. He also received a doctorate in chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1959. He holds patents for research done at two former places of employment: Celanese Corp. in Summit, N.J., and Tee-Pak Inc. in Danville, Ill.

Merrill O'Brien