O’Brien, chief catalyst for transformational change in city, honored at ceremony with portrait
WORCESTER — When Michael O’Brien started as city manager in 2004, the view from City Hall included a dying mall that cut off downtown from the commuter rail at Union Station.
Today, that view contains new housing, new restaurants, rehabbed buildings and more.
On Friday, local politicos credited O’Brien with starting that transformation.
“I believe Mike O’Brien was the chief catalyst for transformational change in the city of Worcester,” Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said at the unveiling of O’Brien’s portrait in City Hall on Friday afternoon. “It didn’t just happen because you think this is a special place. It happened because you had that person who looked out the window every single day and pushed, pushed, pushed, pushed hard to get it done.”
O’Brien served as Worcester’s fifth city manager from 2004 to 2014. His portrait — painted by local artist Linda Dagnello — was unveiled in a ceremony Friday afternoon, with O’Brien surrounded by family and friends, colleagues and city officials. The portrait was paid for by private donations.
“Humbled is an understatement,” O’Brien said of the honor. “It’s truly impossible to put my gratitude in words.”
Mayor Joseph M. Petty, Acting City Manager Eric Batista and emcee Bob Moylan — the former public works and parks commissioner and close friend of O’Brien’s — joined Polito in speaking fondly of O’Brien.
“He moved the city forward in leaps and bounds with a combination of energy, enthusiasm, intensity and sheer force of personality,” Moylan said, noting O’Brien’s “knack” for getting different groups to work together on issues. “Many of the successes realized today had beginnings in Mike’s tenure.”
Meanwhile, O’Brien’s daughters, Kasia and Misia, painted a portrait of their father as a family man.
They remembered how O’Brien would come home at night and report the day’s tribulations while lying on the floor of their bedroom — and would later awake to find himself still there at 3 a.m.
They also recalled his dedication to the city, evidenced by Saturday morning errands that turned into interminable talks with constituents. Finally, they revealed that his public speaking abilities vanish when confronted with the Dunkin' Donuts drive-thru.
O’Brien, meanwhile, was eager to share credit for success with the City Hall staff and political leaders during his tenure.
“I was so blessed with all the people I served with,” O’Brien said.
But perhaps the most credit went to his family.
“They keep me sane and keep me laughing,” O’Brien said of his wife, Beata, and children. “I’m so humbled by all of this.”
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Officials honored city's fifth city manager Michael O’Brien Friday in this way at City Hall
