It is with great sadness that we at the Center of Achievement through Adapted Physical Activity at California State University, Northridge announce the passing of retired (2017) Center Client Coordinator, Becky O’Brien. She passed away on July 28, 2022, comforted by her loving husband, daughters, family and close family friend.
Becky was a kind, loving, compassionate soul who profoundly dedicated nearly 30 years of service to clients, students, faculty and staff at the Center of Achievement as well as the Brown Center for Adaptive Aquatic Therapeutic Exercise.
Becky began her career at the Center as a volunteer working closely with the center founder, Dr. Sam Britten “Dr. Sam”, ultimately being hired as full-time staff, and quickly becoming invaluable for the many and diverse tasks she performed. She was a true people person who made sure her “i’s” were dotted and “t’s” were crossed. During her many years of service, she distinguished herself in the Center as a pleasant, enthusiastic, helpful professional.
As the Client Coordinator, Becky was the pulse of the Center. With her radiant smile and amazing wit, Becky was always willing to help others, especially assisting clients with disabilities who wanted to be part of programs at the Center. Her engagement with everyone, throughout the years, was phenomenal due to her faithfulness to serve any individual who might cross her path.
Her friends and co-workers will remember her with respect and admiration for the endless contributions she made to the Center of Achievement and CSUN. She played an integral role in fundraising for the establishment of the Brown Center, the remodeling of the Center, the transition of leadership when “Dr. Sam” retired, and through development of new opportunities for clients at the Center. The impact Becky made on the lives of so many clients and students is impossible to measure, however her memory and sprit will actively live on at the Center of Achievement.
A Celebration of Life memorial took place on Saturday, September 10, 2022 on the CSUN campus.
The O’Brien Family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be gifted to the Center of Achievement/Brown Center at California State University Northridge as an expression of sympathy and caring.
Easy-Share Link: http://engage.csun.edu/GiveCOA
Updated September 21, 2022
Su 2022
Tanya Bennett-Payne, Center of Achievement, Department of Kinesiology