Keran O'Brien

Born in Brooklyn to Mary Josephine Marache O'Brien and Raymond Keran O’Brien on November 5, 1931.

After retiring from the federal government in 1987 as director of the Manhattan Environmental Services Lab (Formerly: Atomic Energy Commission) he relocated to Sedona, Arizona.

In Arizona, Keran was invited by Northern Arizona University (NAU) to become an adjunct professor in the physics and astronomy department. He served as a referee for the prestigious scientific journals El Sevier and Oxford.

During Professor O’Brien’s scientific career, he published over 135 papers in many scientific journals including his groundbreaking work in cosmic ray propagation and aircrew dosimetry. Among many other achievements, he is the creator of the LUIN code (Lunar and Interplanetary Nucleon). While he originally developed this code in the 1970s, he further improved it for the needs of Aircrew Dosimetry in the early 2000s. This latest version, called ‘PLOTINUS,’ is still in use today, and is the only code taking into account non vertical cutoffs of cosmic rays. Comparisons to other methods have shown its superiority regarding precision and speed. In 1971 Professor O’Brien postulated the ‘Heliocentric Potential,’ a model for the modulation of galactic cosmic rays by the sun which is widely used today in most cosmic ray transport codes.

In his retirement, he remained active in the scientific community consulting for Los Alamos National Laboratory, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Fermi National Accelerator Lab and the Oakridge National Laboratory, as well as European governments, The Royal Canadian Scientific Community, and Pacific Rim countries including Australia where he consulted for Quantas Air Lines.

Most of Professor O’Brien’s publications can be found on researchgate.net, where they are available to the next generation of scientists.

In his private life, Keran enjoyed many other activities including hiking in Arizona’s beautiful landscape, reading, and music. He was a founding member and board member of many community organizations, where he worked alongside elected officials and neighbors.

In 1962 he married Barbara Hope Zwickel, and together they had children David and Judith (aka Peg). They divorced in 2001.

In 2002, Keran married Dorothy Peterson, with whom he joyfully spent his last 25 years.

Professor O'Brien is survived by his devoted wife, Dorothy, and their children and grandchildren Sharlene (son John), Lee (daughters Talia and Mabel), and Jessica. He is also survived by his children and grandchildren from his first marriage: David (sons Thomas and Daniel), and Peg (sons Miguel, Keran, Thaddeus, and Enrique).

Keran is predeceased by his beloved sister Professor Mary O’Brien Ball and younger brother USAF Chief JAG Colonel Patrick O’Brien (retired).

A Celebration of Life for Keran will be held Sunday, November 2nd at 3PM at Ashurst Hall, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to NAU Choral Studies, PO Box 6040, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 or to Maggie’s Hospice via this link or by calling 928-775-2290.