Shortly after Robert C. O'Brien's birth in 1918, his family moved from New York City to Amityville, Long Island where he attended parochial school. He was both a frightened and difficult child who sought solace in his love of music. He was admired for his singing and piano playing, but he did not adapt well to either school or family life.

His wife, Sally, described the joys and frustrations of his youth: "There is a sign much in evidence these days which proclaims, 'If you aren't nervous, you just don't understand the situation.' My impression of Robert...is that he has, since early childhood, 'understood the situation'--i.e., he was and is a nervous being. On the other hand, he has--also since childhood--had a formidable set of skills or talents for dealing with that nervousness. First, and probably most important, was a talent for music. He could sing...