Obituaries

Daniel Joseph O’Neill

Daniel Joseph O’Neill died Sept. 23 in Southold after battling Alzheimer’s disease. He was 84 years old.

Dan was born Jan. 1, 1929, in Queens to Mary Loughman O’Neill (County Laois, Ireland) and Daniel Joseph O’Neill (County Kerry, Ireland). He served four years in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and was awarded a United Nations Service Medal and a Bronze Service Star.

He was predeceased in 1970 by his wife Patricia Clare (née Fulham). They had three sons, Brian Daniel (Karen), Daniel Fulham (Patty) and Paul Joseph. In 1972, Dan married Patricia Ann Fink. They had two sons, Kerry George (Corrie) and Michael Patrick (Diana).

While raising children, Dan earned a B.A. in business administration from Adelphi University. His career included positions in management and sales, mostly of power and transmission equipment.

As an active member of St. Hugh’s Parish, Huntington Station, he sat on  the parish council and chaired fundraising dances for New Year’s Eve and St. Patrick’s Day. He was a founding member of the St. Hugh-St. Elizabeth Little League, with which he remained involved for more than 25 years. He was an assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scouts of America and continued to serve on scout committees.

After Dan retired in 1999, he and Patricia moved to Founders Village in Southold, where he became a very involved resident. He played golf regularly and also worked for a time at North Fork Country Club (as the oldest “bag boy” employed by the club). He will be remembered for his genuine and ever-present smile and always genial nature.

His family was the light of his life. Dan (known to many loved ones and friends as “Big Jack”) considered himself to be blessed not only with five sons but also with nine beloved grandchildren: Patrick (Kristen), Caitlin, Conor, Matthew, Gregory, Nicholas, Liam, Desmond and, most recently, Finn (July 2013).

Funeral arrangements were handled by DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of the Christian Burial was celebrated by Father Peter Garry Sept. 27 at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold, followed by interment at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.

The family requests that donations be made to San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, 61700 Route 48, Greenport, NY 11944.

This is a paid notice.