Brian O'Bannon

Brian O'Bannon, age 82, of Amherst, died Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Amherst. Born May 3, 1938 in Buffalo, he was the middle child of the late Jack and Josephine (nee Noon) O'Bannon. The family settled on Highland Avenue, 5 doors down from Kenmore High School (now Kenmore West). While in high school, Brian served as class president and was on the football and tennis teams. A graduate of the class of 1956, he went on to attend Hobart College, where he was on the tennis team.  During his senior year at Hobart, he sold his first life insurance policy a few months before graduating in 1960. 

He was an insurance salesman for 60 years, following the example of his father, Jack who was a general agent for Connecticut Mutual. Brian started working with his dad, but when his father passed in 1975, he decided to go out on his own. He was the CEO of the Brian O’Bannon Agency - Insurance & Financial Services for many years before taking on a partner, Bill Davis. Together they formed O’Bannon & Davis, where Brian worked until his passing. He earned a lifetime membership in the Million Dollar Round Table. He was a Consistent Qualifier for the National Quality Award and the National Sales Achievement Award, and on the Board of Directors for the Buffalo Life Underwriters and the Insurance Club of Buffalo.

Brian was the first conservative elected to public office in Erie County. He served on the town council in the Town of Tonawanda for 14 years (1974-1979, 1983-1993). He served as chair of the environmental, engineering, water, and waste water committees.

Brian was a community leader as well. He was the recipient of the 1,000 Points of Light Award for charitable work from President George H.W. Bush. He earned this honor by walking across the State of Washington, raising money and awareness for the Anorexic and Bulimic Association. Brian was a member of the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce, and a sustaining member of Boys Town America and Century Club Boy Scouts of America’s. Brian was a founder of the Ken-Ton Friends of Youth, where he served on the board.

He was the former husband of Jane (nee Randazzo) O’Bannon; father of Melissa (Pasquale) Colosanti of Alden, Jacquelyn (Brian) Britzzalaro of Lancaster, Jeffrey (Lori) O'Bannon of Buffalo, and the late Brian B. O’Bannon; grandfather of Christopher, Maria, Teresa, Dylan, Clara, and Lucia; and brother of Barbara O'Bannon of Snyder, and Belinda O’Bannon of Seattle, Washington. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews, and his second wife, Diane O’Bannon, and her children, Becky, Jessica and Sarah. 

The family will receive friends from 9:30 - 11 AM on Saturday at St. Mary's Church of Swormsville, 6919 Transit Road, East Amherst. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM Saturday at St. Mary's Church of Swormsville, for those who wish to attend; the Rev. Jack Mattimore officiating. If desired, memorials to the SPCA of Erie County, 300 Harlem Road, West Seneca, NY 14224, are preferred by the family.

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