Jeffrey Michael O'Brien's Obituary
Jeffrey Michael O’Brien passed away on March 24th, 2025. Jeff was beloved by everyone who knew him. An icon in the Gainesville community, Jeff was the co-founder and co-owner of the nationwide college-town staple, Gumby’s Pizza. He started the restaurant after being nicknamed "Gumby" in his University of Florida fraternity, ATO. After leaving UF to pursue his dream of opening his own restaurant, he dedicated the next 40 years of his life to building and sustaining Gumby’s Pizza.
Jeff lived a big life—he traveled all around the United States, spreading his legacy to college towns and making Gumby’s Pizza an icon wherever he went. People loved him—he was charismatic, funny, and had an uncanny ability to make anyone he met feel instantly welcome.
To those who knew Jeff best, he was the most lovable, generous, and unintentionally funny person.
Modest by nature, he wore the same pair of green shorts every day since 1992. He lived on Mr. Pibb soda, had no shame in ordering $40 worth of Taco Bell on any given day, and always made sure to load up on appetizers at Outback Steakhouse—his favorite dining spot.
He was welcoming, accepting, and always forgiving. Jeff was generous to a fault, and he had the incredible ability to show up as his true self, no matter the situation. His compassion for others, infectious smile, and love for life made him a friend to all.
Jeff loved Gator football games and all-you-can-eat buffets on cruises with his friends. He cherished late-night walks with his daughter and their dogs. He adored Boxers and American Eskimos, often winning their hearts with pizza from Gumby’s. He enjoyed golfing with his brother, cousins, and friends. He also had a brief but intense passion for fish, which led to him setting up two enormous, and frankly hideous, saltwater tanks in his house that he treated like family.
Jeff is survived by his daughter Amanda, his mother Corrine, his father Joseph, his brother Joe, his nephews Jacob, Joey, and Jamie, as well as multiple wives and girlfriends.
His warm, welcoming nature will be missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
A celebration of life will occur on Sunday, March 30th, 2025 at 10am at the Baughman Center for family and friends that have been personally invited.
In lieu of flowers, we are accepting donations to honor Jeff with a memorial bench in Gainesville, providing a place for loved ones to visit and remember him.
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