Tom_OBrien_Pioneer

= Thomas C. O'Brien =

Introduction
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Tom's work with computing
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Sundance
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Obituary
December 18, 2010 12:00 am • [|BY NANCY CAMBRIA • Nancy.Cambria@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8238]

Thomas C. O'Brien, a retired Southern Illinois University Edwardsville professor who became internationally known for his advocacy of advanced math studies in grade school, died Dec. 6, 2010, of cancer. He was 72 and lived in St. Louis. Professor O'Brien joined the education faculty at SIUE in 1970 to direct the Teacher's Center Project, a federally funded program to strengthen the nation's mathematics curriculum in elementary schools. "At that time, there was a government impetus because of Sputnik to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics," said Gail O'Brien, his wife of 49 years. "Tom's feeling first and foremost was that children were naturally mathematicians in that they could make sense of the world." During his tenure at the center, Professor O'Brien focused attention on the need for teaching mathematical problem solving — not just drills. His work is credited with helping reshape the way math is taught and learned in schools around the country. Professor O'Brien authored more than 80 papers and dozens of textbooks, some of which were reprinted in England, Germany and Brazil. His research papers often reflected his fascination in observing children debate and solve math problems. "One teacher recounted watching Tom and two children who were debating whether nine was an odd number or an even number, and Tom was fascinated by the arguments that the two children gave," his wife said. He lectured around the world on the development of children's mathematical thinking, and in 1978 was named the first NATO Senior Research Fellow in Math and Science. His work has been translated into Hebrew, Portuguese, Icelandic and German. Professor O'Brien was born in New York City and graduated from Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y. He later got a master's from Columbia University and a doctorate from New York University.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Jan. 21 at St. Anselm Church, 530 South Mason Road, Creve Coeur. In addition to his wife, among the survivors are a son, Thomas C. O'Brien III of Berkeley, Calif.; two daughters, Ellen Tankel of New York City and Virginia O'Brien of Asheville, N.C.; and one granddaughter. . . ..