James Jay O'Brien (1880 - 1940)

Born 22 Feb 1880 in New York City, New York, United States

Husband of Marie Adrienne (Koenig) Murray — married 18 Dec 1916 (to 1917) in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Husband of Irene (Frizell) Barrymore — married 1918 (to 10 Apr 1923) in New York City, New York, United States

Husband of Laura Linola (Hylan) Dorelis — married about Oct 1924 in New York City, New York, United States

Died 5 Apr 1940 at age 60 in Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Florida, United States

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Biography

James O'Brien is Notable.

Jay O'Brien was an American bobsledder who competed in the late 1920s and early 1930s. He won two medals at the Winter Olympics with a gold in the four-man event at Lake Placid, New York in 1932 and a silver in the five-man event at St. Moritz in 1928. At 48 years old, he was then the oldest Olympic champion.

James was born 22 Feb 1880, in New York City.

In 1928 Jay was head of the bobsled committee which was asked to select a team to compete at St. Moritz. O’Brien was faced with the problem of having no course in the United States on which to hold the tryouts, so he selected the team among Americans who were in Europe at the time.

O’Brien himself rode as a brakeman on the second-place sled that year and returned four years later to add a gold medal.

O’Brien was an investment banker and real estate broker, with holdings in both New York and Palm Beach.

He was married three times, once to Mae Murray silent screen star; next to Irene Fenwick, another well-known actress; and lastly to Julie Fleischmann, heir to the Fleischmann Company fortune.

Jay died 5 Apr 1940, at Palm Beach, Florida.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ61-9N8 : 14 January 2022), James O'Brien in household of Miles O'Brien, New York City, New York County, New York, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
• "California Marriages, 1850-1945", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:41ZN-75MM : 24 March 2020), James J. O'Brien, 1916.
• "California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLHC-V4P : 9 March 2021), James J O'Brien and Maria Koenig, 18 Dec 1916; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 1,033,265.
• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJTT-3NY : 2 February 2021), James Obrien, 1920.
• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJBM-5B3 : 2 February 2021), James O'Brien in entry for Cecilia McHugh, 1920.
• "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5Y-JQTG : 16 March 2018), James J O'Brien in entry for Irene Fenwick O'Brien, 1923; citing Passport Application, New York, United States, source certificate #299438, Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, 2284, NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24NH-NQ8 : 2 March 2021), Jay O'Brien, 1931; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24JL-83Y : 2 March 2021), James J O'Brien, 1932; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VVFC-JXY : 25 December 2014), James Jay O'Brien, 1940; from "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998," index, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 2004); citing vol. 894, certificate number 8926, Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, Jacksonville.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q536-JW38 : 18 July 2020), J Jay O'Brien, 1940.
• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 27 April 2021), memorial page for James Jay “Jay” O'Brien (22 Feb 1880–5 Apr 1940), Find A Grave: Memorial #140759756, citing Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum, Hartsdale, Westchester County, New York, USA; maintained by squadron a association (contributor 48454800), mausoleum headstone, chapel and portrait photos.
• Wikipedia:Jay O'Brien (bobsleigh)