Thursday, September 3, 2015
Douglas John O’Neill
November 7, 1932 – August 30, 2015
A true gentleman to all who know him, died early Sunday morning at home with his family, after a long battle with prostate cancer.
Born November 7, 1932, to Hugh and Mildred (Downes) O’Neill, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the second of five sons.
Douglas is a graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School and put that education to use soon after as a Draftsman at the Alvord & Swift Company prior to be drafted into the Army. He served in the Army Signal Corps in Korea as a repeaterman and received the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. In 2010, his service was recognized with a permanent place in the Veterans’ Walls of Honor in Eisenhower Park
Upon return from Korea, he returned to his previous career as a draftsman at various mechanical contractors in the NYC area. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, another Brooklynite who has recently moved to Franklin Square, Marie LeClair.
Douglas and Marie were married in September 1962, at St. Catherine’s of Sienna Church in Franklin Square and set up their home in West Hempstead where they have happily resided for over 50 years raising three children, Douglas William, Barbara Marie and Brian Henry.
The O’Neills were active parishioners in the St. Thomas the Apostle Community. Doug was a member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society, a current member of the Knights of Columbus and for many years served as an Usher at the 5 O’clock Saturday Mass. He was a trustee of the Knights of Columbus Maureen Nolan Scholarship fund.
The O’Neills enjoyed visits to plays, concerts and museums in NYC and Long Island and traveling. Doug also enjoyed great pleasure and some pain from his favorite activities puttering around his house and achieving the perfect suburban lawn. Since retiring he added watching his grandsons’ baseball games to the top of that list.
He is survived by his wife, Marie (LeClair); his children Douglas, his wife Lisa (Baxter) and their son Ian Douglas; Barbara; Brian, his wife Bonnie (Allers) and their sons Kyle Patrick, Kory James and Kraig Ryan; his brothers and sisters-in-law Hugh and Joan, Theodore and Joan, Lawrence and Diane and was predeceased by his brother Kevin.
