Robert E. O'Neil

Waltham – Mr. Robert E. 'Bob' O'Neil, of Waltham, formerly of Mashpee, died Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He was 86.

Bob was born in Belmont on December 19, 1925, a son of the late George and Sarah (Kelley) O'Neil. He was raised in Watertown and was a graduate of Watertown High School. After that he enrolled at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester before joining the United States Navy in 1944.

Following the war Bob enrolled at Harvard College in Cambridge, graduating in 1951. Until his retirement he worked as a manufacturer's representative for various commercial building products. He moved to Waltham following his marriage on April 17, 1955 to Elizabeth R. Stankard, a Waltham native, and lived there until moving to Mashpee in 1991. The couple returned to live in Waltham three years ago.

In 2006 Bob was honored by his induction into the Watertown High Hall of Fame. According to articles published at the time, his high school exploits on the football field earned him all-scholastic honors from the Boston Post and the Boston Herald, which put him on its first team of all-stars.

"Bob O'Neil of Watertown enjoyed a slight edge over Vaughn Bogosian of Medford in the selection of the center berth on The Herald team," it was reported on November 28, 1943. "Coach Jack Crowley of Watertown, one of the best defensive backs to ever wear the purple of Holy Cross, credited O'Neil with playing a tremendous part in giving Watertown one of the best records it has enjoyed in recent years."

Like many of Bob's classmates, he served in the military upon graduation or turning 18. Given his talents in the classroom, he qualified for the Navy Officers V-5 program at Holy Cross, where he studied and trained for eight months until the program was discontinued. At that point, he enlisted in the regular Navy and served as a seaman first class in the Pacific for the duration of the war. His name appears in Watertown Town Hall with other decorated World War II veterans including his brother, George O'Neil.

Bob continued his collegiate studies after his discharge, which included stints at St. Anselm's in Manchester, New Hampshire and the University of Miami. After returning to Watertown in 1949, he took the Harvard University entrance exam and was accepted, allowing him to complete his bachelor's degree there in 1951. Although his football playing days ended as a teen he could be found almost every weekend that he could find time watching Harvard football at the Stadium.

After he retired and moved to Mashpee he found great joy and peace in the outdoors . . . Bob became a knowledgeable and steady bird-watcher, often found at one of his favorite spots, South Cape Beach in Mashpee. Also a skilled craftsman, he created intricate wood carvings of birds that his family will cherish always.

In addition to his wife of 57 years, Elizabeth 'Libby' O'Neil, he leaves his children, Ellen M. Foley and her husband, Jack, of Waltham, Stephen T. O'Neil and his wife, Doreen, of Shrewsbury, Robert E. O'Neil, Jr. and his wife, Patricia, of Ashland and Mark D. O'Neil and his wife, Stephanie, of Waltham; his grandchildren, John Foley and his wife, Katy, Derek Foley and his wife, Kerri, Chad, Brooke, Connor, Alex, Madeline, Janice and Mark O'Neil, Jr; his great-grandchild Kalyse Foley; his brothers and sisters, Barbara Thornton of Tewksbury, Richard O'Neil and his wife, Lillian, of Sandwich, Edward O'Neil and his wife, Pat, of Beverly, Kenneth O'Neil of Missouri, David O'Neil and his wife, Karen, of Florida, Brian O'Neil of Waltham and Sarah Alexson of Mashpee; his sister-in-law, Louise O'Neil of Waltham and many nieces and nephews.

Bob was also a brother of the late George O'Neil, Jr., Donald O'Neil and Mary Lu McGilvray and brother-in-law of the late Joseph Thornton and Richard Alexson.

Family and friends will honor and remember Bob's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Tuesday, April 3rd, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary's Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, ATTN: Tribute Gifts, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780.