Feb. 3, 2005
 Vincent
O. McBrien, a longtime mathematics professor at Holy Cross,
died Feb. 3 in the Beaumont Nursing Home, Northbridge, Mass.,
at 88.
Prior to his retirement from the College in 1978, Mr. McBrien
had taught approximately 30 years in the mathematics department,
serving as the department chairman in the 1960s. From 1952-53,
he studied algebraic geometry at Harvard University, Cambridge,
Mass., through a Ford Foundation Fellowship; from 1960-61
and, again, from 1976-77, he had been a research associate
in mathematics at the University of California at Berkeley.
During his career, Mr. McBrien took a one-year sabbatical
to serve as a visiting professor of mathematics at Trinity
College, Dublin, Ireland; in addition to lecturing first-year
engineering students, he pursued a tutorial in algebraic
geometry. From 1978-79, Mr. McBrien was a research associate
at Harvard University.
A 1937 graduate of Providence (R.I.) College, with a degree
in physics, Mr. McBrien worked as an assistant civil engineer
for the city of Attleboro, Mass., during the summers of 1935
and 1936 and, also, for a year after graduation. Awarded
a Knights of Columbus fellowship for graduate studies in
mathematics at the Catholic University of America in Washington,
D.C., in 1938, he earned a master of science degree there
in 1940 and his Ph.D. in 1942. Mr. McBrien then performed
a year of scientific research for the Navy before accepting
a position in the mathematics department at Hamilton College
in Clinton, N.Y.; he enlisted in the Navy in 1944.
Mr. McBrien was the author of several papers on algebraic
geometry and two textbooks on college calculus.
Active in civic affairs, he served as a Town Meeting Member
for Precinct One in Auburn, Mass.
Born and raised in Attleboro, Mass., Mr. McBrien was a
1933 graduate of Attleboro High School. An amateur baseball
player, he had been an infielder on town teams for many years.
Mr. McBrien is survived by two sons; two daughters; 17
grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces.
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