Elaine O'Brien

{{Short description|American flight instructor and politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=Elaine O'Brien

|state_house=Connecticut

|district=61st

|term_start=January 2011

|term_end=February 21, 2014

|succeeded=Tami Zawistowski

|birth_date={{birth date|1955|8|1}}

|birth_place=Medford, Massachusetts

|death_date={{death date and age|2014|2|21|1955|8|1}}

|death_place=West Hartford, Connecticut

|occupation=flight instructor

|alma_mater=Pennsylvania State University (bachelors)
Westfield State University (masters)

|party=Democratic Party

|children=3

}}

Elaine Catherine Corrigan O'Brien Donnelly (August 1, 1955 – February 21, 2014) was an American flight instructor and politician.

Born in Medford, Massachusetts, O'Brien received her bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University and her masters from Westfield State University, She had multiple careers, including in aviation as a pilot and flight instructor, and in state and local government. She served on the local board of education and as town clerk. She then served in the Connecticut House of Representatives, from Suffield, Connecticut, as a Democrat from 2010 until her death in 2014.

She died in West Hartford, Connecticut from glioblastoma at age 58.[http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/126711/elaine-obrien Votesmart.org-Elaine O'Brien profile], votesmart.org; accessed March 1, 2014."Elaine O'Brien, 58, a youthful flight instructor turned Conn. lawmaker", Bryan Marquard, The Boston Globe, February 27, 2014; accessed March 1, 2014.