Maureen Anne O’Sullivan

Maureen Anne O’Sullivan, a one-woman force field of creativity, mindfulness, humor and compassion, passed away on February 28 in Santa Monica. She was 78 years old.

Maureen, or “Mo” to her many friends, was born May 29, 1945, in Lakeland, Florida. She is survived by a sister, Cathy Shorr, and three brothers, James, Michael and William. She was pre-deceased by one sister, Barbara, and a brother, John.

For many years, she made her home in the Santa Monica area, but she was also an avid traveler, residing for a time in London and Paris, and sailing out of Nantucket to the West Indies. Her many passions, including photography, prompted travel to far flung places, from Moscow to Morocco.

Maureen graduated from Syracuse University with a B.A. in 1972 and later received a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 1994. Prior to moving to California, she worked as a video and radio producer in New York, hosted a radio program on WOCB in Nantucket, and hosted a weekly television program in which she interviewed Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, and Ted Kennedy.

She moved on to a career in marketing and public relations at Friedman-O’Sullivan Communications where she produced television and music specials, as well as events such as “A Rock ‘N Roll Summit” for Showtime. She was a cofounder of MusiCares with Michael Greene. She served on the board of directors for the Institute for Cinema Studies and the LACMA Photographic Arts Council.

In her last job, as an attorney for Disney Interactive, Business and Legal Affairs Division, she negotiated production, development and entertainment agreements.

When she retired in 2017, she was looking forward to more traveling. Her cancer diagnosis derailed those plans, but her spiritual journey took flight. A longtime devotee of Buddhist meditation and teachings, and sober for over 40 years, Mo’s ability to celebrate each and every moment of every single day was inspirational.

“We’re all going over those falls eventually,” she told friends, “and I am enjoying the ride.”

Mo loved collecting fine art photography and scarves. Her greatest pleasure, says her brother Michael, came from helping others.

“She was happiest making connections,” he added, “and helping people be their true selves.”

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 5, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford Avenue.