Obituary: Goodbye Jay O'Brien

Obituary: goodbye Jay O'Brien

We are deeply saddened by the news that our long-time colleague, friend and SSA board member professor Jay O'Brien of Purdue University-West Lafayette passed away Monday 27,  2013 at the Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis.  Our deepest sympathies and  heartfelt condolences go to his wife our colleague professor Ellen Gruenbaum and their family.

Jay was scheduled two days before the time of his death to participate in a joint presentation by him and Ellen in the Sudan Studies Association 32 conference in Philadelphia titled: Stories from Sudan: Why Narrative Matter.  Alas, we never had a chance to listen to you this time Jay nor to say goodbye.

His life long enthusiasm and  relationship with the Sudan and Sudan Studies began after he finished his PhD in cultural anthropology at University of Connecticut.  Throughout his academic career, he spent five years teaching and doing research at the University of Khartoum. He taught in California, Sweden, and Botswana before joining the anthropology department at Purdue University-West Lafayette in 2008. He authored many articles and two books: Toward a Reconstruction of Ethnicity: Capitalist expansion and Cultural Dynamics in Sudan and Economy and class in Sudan which was coauthored by Norman O'Neill.

Jay was a consummate, caring and dedicated scholar who made significant contributions that spanned fundamental areas in the field of Sudan studies.  His everlasting legacy in this field  was best manifested in many of his Sudanese, American and international students who were inspired by his mentorship and his dedication to issues of human cultural life and search for social justice.  His SSA colleagues remember him not only for his scholarship and thoughtful contribution to the livelihood of the Association but also for his generous, friendly and pleasant personality.

Jay was born in Montclair, New Jersey, on January 13, 1947. He grow up in San Jose, California. He graduated in 1969 from Stanford University. Before that he was an exchange student in Sweden.

Jay was survived by his wife, Ellen, his sons Jesse and Zachary and granddaughter Violet, and his mother Blanche and his sister Karen along with eleven nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations my be made to AFS Intercultural Programs, 1 Whitehall St., FL2, New York, NY 100276-0741.

Memories for appreciation of Jay O'Brien may be sent to Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban for publication in the coming SSA Bulletin: CFluehr@ric.edu

Abdullahi Gallab
SSA President