Al O'Brien: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(New page: '''Al O'Brien''' (born c. 1936 - died May 13, 2008 in Birmingham) was a painter known for working and displaying his paintings around the Storyteller fountain at [[Five...)
 
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Al O'Brien''' (born c. [[1936]] - died [[May 13]], [[2008]] in [[Birmingham]]) was a painter known for working and displaying his paintings around the [[Storyteller fountain]] at [[Five Points South]].
'''Al O'Brien''' (born c. [[1936]] in Chicago, Illinois - died [[May 13]], [[2008]] in [[Birmingham]]) was a painter known for working and displaying his paintings around the [[Storyteller fountain]] at [[Five Points South]].


According to [[Libby Rich]], O'Brien's ex-wife, he had worked as a tennis pro and sportswriter before taking up painting. He died at [[UAB Hospital]] a day after calling 911 because of trouble breathing. He had no immediate family and left no will at the time of his death.
O'Brien, a college basketball player in Chicago, worked as a sportswriter for the ''[[Birmingham News]]'' from [[1970]] to [[1974]] and as a tennis pro at private clubs and at [[East Lake Park]]. In the 1980s he was briefly married to [[Libby Rich]]. He later penned a newsletter for the [[Birmingham Better Business Bureau]] and began selling paintings, mainly of local landmarks and street scenes, at the Five Points fountain. He was known as a friendly eccentric, happy to talk to anyone but sensitive to criticism of his work.  
 
He died at [[UAB Hospital]] a day after calling 911 because of trouble breathing. He had no immediate family and left no will at the time of his death.


==References==
==References==
* Diel, Stan (May 22, 2008) "Al O'Brien, the Fountain Painter of Birmingham, dead and may face pauper's burial." ''Birmingham News''
* Diel, Stan (May 23, 2008) "Five Points South artist, former athlete Al O'Brien dies." ''Birmingham News''


{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Brien, Al}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Brien, Al}}
Line 11: Line 13:
[[Category:Painters]]
[[Category:Painters]]
[[Category:Sportswriters]]
[[Category:Sportswriters]]
[[Category:Birmingham News]]
[[Category:Tennis players]]
[[Category:Tennis players]]

Revision as of 07:53, 23 May 2008

Al O'Brien (born c. 1936 in Chicago, Illinois - died May 13, 2008 in Birmingham) was a painter known for working and displaying his paintings around the Storyteller fountain at Five Points South.

O'Brien, a college basketball player in Chicago, worked as a sportswriter for the Birmingham News from 1970 to 1974 and as a tennis pro at private clubs and at East Lake Park. In the 1980s he was briefly married to Libby Rich. He later penned a newsletter for the Birmingham Better Business Bureau and began selling paintings, mainly of local landmarks and street scenes, at the Five Points fountain. He was known as a friendly eccentric, happy to talk to anyone but sensitive to criticism of his work.

He died at UAB Hospital a day after calling 911 because of trouble breathing. He had no immediate family and left no will at the time of his death.

References

  • Diel, Stan (May 23, 2008) "Five Points South artist, former athlete Al O'Brien dies." Birmingham News