Michael L. O'Brien

Michael Lawrence O'Brien, 68, of Scriba, N.Y., died at Upstate University Hospital following a long illness on May 16, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born on June 24, 1957, in Oswego, N.Y.

Michael was a proud alumnus of Catholic schools, attended St. John’s School and graduating from Oswego Catholic High School in 1975. Active in sports from a young age, he played Little League baseball and briefly joined the school basketball team, though his high school cross country career remained closest to his heart. His sense of humor and fondness for harmless pranks earned him a reputation as a class clown. A gifted artist, Michael was awarded a scholarship to Pratt Institute but declined to attend.

He had long aspired to go into business for himself, and in 1981 he founded MDC Coins, transforming his childhood love of coin collecting into a career. The venture evolved into Wholesale Diamond Exchange, a retail jewelry operation that became a fixture of the Oswego community. Michael’s keen ability to identify and grade gemstones by eye made him a valued mentor to others in field. In addition to sharing his expertise informally, he gave diamond-grading seminars for colleagues in the secondhand jewelry market.

Michael's passion for open-wheel racing found a natural outlet in his business. Wholesale Diamond Exchange sponsored several supermodified drivers at the Oswego Speedway and for years designed and produced the champion ring for the annual Budweiser Classic. Each year, Michael presented the ring to the winning driver himself.

In 1992 he married Mary Ann DiFabio Lewis of Auburn, N.Y. Mary Ann subsequently became a gemologist and joined the business, becoming his partner in work as well as life. Together they became active runners, and Michael sponsored Oswego County Runs for Fun for several years. He was involved in the community as a Member of the Moose Lodge.

A lifelong cutup, Michael always enjoyed a good joke and could deliver one with ease, to the very end.

Michael is survived by his wife, Mary Ann (née DiFabio) O’Brien; his children, Cristin (Patrick) Lyon, Param Singh (Melanie O’Brien), and Benjamin O'Brien (Hillary Andujar); his grandchildren, Madeline and Joshua Fuhrman and Ashlynn, Arjan, and Anand O’Brien; and his siblings, Patrick O’Brien, Maureen (Stephen) Chepiga, Lawrence (Tricia) O’Brien, and Margaret O’Brien. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert John O’Brien and Elizabeth Eleanor (née Rose) O’Brien.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, from 4pm to 6pm at Foster Funeral Home, 910 Fay Street, Fulton, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 10am at Holy Trinity Parish, 309 Buffalo St, Fulton, NY 13069. Burial will immediately follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, 6020 Lake Ave, Auburn, NY 13021. To leave a special message for the family, please sign the guestbook.