For all of his work on the parish, diocesan and national level of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Obren was awarded the Order of Saint Sava, which honors those who have made exceptional contributions to the church and society.  For his life of service to the Church on many other levels, he was also honored with the Order of Saint Innocent, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Obren was also Trustee Emeritus and former Board Chair of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary which he loved so much. An exceptionally faithful steward, his generosity toward the institution began in July 1983 and continued until the end of his life. Over more than two decades on the Board, he served on the Finance, Audit, Advancement, and Executive Committees, and co-chaired the Seminary’s first major capital campaign, which brought a great expansion of the Seminary’s facilities and programs. His generosity to the annual budget, to capital projects, and to the Seminary endowment was unparalleled, and it was entirely natural that when the Rangos building was completed, the Boardroom would be named in his honor.

His heart was especially with the seminarians. Together with his beloved wife Marilyn, he established four scholarship funds: The Petar L. and Olga Gerich Family Scholarship Fund (1993), The Brian and Marilyn Gerich Scholarship Fund (1997), The Professor Veselin Kesich Scholarship Fund (2001), and The Dr Albert Rossi Endowed Scholarship Fund for Clinical Pastoral Education (2013). He also paid hospital fees so that seminarians could complete their Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). He often spoke of how St. Vladimir’s graduates had blessed his own parish, and he worked to see that blessing multiplied in parishes across North America.

In 2013, Saint Vladimir’s Seminary presented him the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. The citation opened with the words of our Lord: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). No verse could describe him better.

For all of us who knew him well, he was our great mentor and example of sacrificial service and generous giving to Christ and His Church.

We extend our sincere condolence to his beloved wife Marilyn and their daughters Carrie Bullard and Julia Brankkovic; sons-in-law Brian Bullard and Alex Brankovic; sister Marie Belotti and many grandchildren and extended family.