Remembering Lois B. O’Brien (1927–2026)
Lois B. O’Brien, a pioneering entomologist and cherished member of the Arizona State University community, passed away at the age of 98. Known affectionately as the “Mother Fulgoroid,” Lois helped shape modern understanding of planthoppers and inspired generations of researchers through both her science and her extraordinary generosity.
Together with her late husband, Charles W. O’Brien, Lois built one of the most significant private insect collections in the world. Their shared dedication led to the establishment of the Charles and Lois O’Brien Collection at Arizona State University, now part of ASU Biocollections. The collection comprises approximately 1.25 million specimens, including 1 million weevils and 250,000 planthoppers, and continues to support global research, education, and discovery.
Sangmi Lee, Insect and Mollusk Collections Manager at the ASU Biocollections, first met Lois and Charlie in 2012. “Their home in Green Valley was built around their collection,” she recalled. “I still remember my first visit. It was incredible to see the scale of the collection.” After the collection was transferred to ASU in 2018, Lee worked more closely with the couple and developed a meaningful friendship with Lois in her later years.
Lois was widely respected as a leading expert in Fulgoroidea, a relatively small but highly specialized field. “She’s been known as the ‘mother’ of the group,” Lee said. “Anyone working on planthoppers knew her.” Beyond her scientific expertise, Lois was deeply committed to mentoring others. She welcomed students and researchers from around the world, encouraged their work, and helped them build lasting careers in entomology.
Her generosity extended far beyond specimens. Lois and Charlie actively supported students through funding, workshops, and open access to their collection. “Their goal was to make sure researchers had the resources they needed,” Lee explained. “The collection isn’t something kept behind glass. It’s for anyone who wants to study.” That legacy continues through the O’Brien Endowment at ASU, which provides ongoing support for collections care, research, and student training.
Despite her global reputation, Lois was remembered just as much for her personality as for her accomplishments. “She was a really funny lady. She joked a lot,” Lee said. Even into her 90s, Lois remained engaged and curious, meeting with students, sharing stories from her life in science, and inspiring newcomers to the field. At ASU, she became known for visiting the collections, talking with undergraduate students, and celebrating her birthday with the community she helped build.
Though small in stature, only about five feet tall as Lee noted, Lois had a remarkable presence and energy. After Charlie’s passing in 2019, Lee visited her regularly. “She always wanted to be working with her insects, curating, pinning, and labeling specimens, just as she had throughout her life,” she said. “Even when she no longer could, that passion never left her.”
Lois and Charlie had no children, but their legacy lives on through the collections they built and the countless people they mentored. Their vision was not only to build an extraordinary collection, but to ensure it remained active, accessible, and meaningful for generations to come. Today, Arizona State University carries that responsibility forward by safeguarding these invaluable specimens, supporting ongoing research, and helping train the next generation of entomologists who will continue to build on their legacy.
Lois O’Brien lived a long and deeply impactful life. She will be remembered for her scientific contributions, her humor and warmth, and her unwavering dedication to both insects and the people who study them.
Her legacy endures in the millions of specimens she helped preserve, in the science they continue to make possible, and in the global community she helped shape.