O’Bryant (John D.) is born in Boston.

John O’Bryant attends the Boston publics schools, graduates from Boston University, and becomes a guidance counselor in the Boston public schools in 1955. He becomes director of training at the Dimock Community Health Center, then the first African-American vice president at Northeastern University. A resident of 52 Hillsboro Road, he serves on the Boston School Committee (1978-83) and as its president in 1980.* O’Bryant dies in Boston on July 3, 1992.