Thomas Edward O’Neill was born June 5, 1925 in Willard, Ohio – the second son of Marie and Selby O’Neill.  He was preceded in death by his brother Richard and his sister Rosemary (Loren) Chalfin.  He is survived by his sister Joann (Steve) Damko and brother Patrick (Ann – deceased).  He is also survived by his wife Sally (Mager) and his 6 children, Mike (Ann), Patrick (Pam), Tim, Kelly (John) Baumer, Polly (Howard) Anthony and Toby (Melissa).

He was adored by his grandchildren Shannon (Lance) Hayes, Erin and Levi O’Neill; Patrick (Sarah), Lauren, Luke (Elyse) and Mari O’Neill; Sarah, Jack and Shane Baumer; Brendan (Sarah) Anthony, Brooke (Danny) Stull, and Meghan Anthony (fiancé Cody Cox); Connor and Maggie O’Neill and three great- grandchildren, Holland and John O’Neill and Elijah Stull, and Baby O due in May 2018.

To say Dad lived life to the fullest is an understatement.  There are so many complimentary descriptors that fit him so well:

He was a devoted husband of 63 years, a family man who knew and loved his Lord.

Dad was an officer in the U.S. Navy, a business leader who loved Westfield Insurance and the many agents he served, a community leader who proudly served on Wadsworth-Rittman Hospital Board (now Summa), and he was a water sports enthusiast who loved boating, and waterskied until he was 80.

He was a devout Catholic who for years attended daily mass at Sacred Heart Church in Wadsworth, a proud OSU Buckeye, a handyman who could fix anything, he enjoyed making bean bag games, and he was a champion bean bag player (don’t even think about calling it corn hole).  He was a legendary fun-loving, hardworking, patriarch of a huge Irish Catholic family.

Dad’s philosophy was to invest in fun ways to spend time with friends, and especially his family.  With his wife Sally always by his side, they loved the time spent at their cabin at Seneca Lake and the condo in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands.  They invested in wonderful relationships in those communities and reaped the reward of lifelong friendships. They cherished the countless great memories that were enjoyed over the years in all those locations and more.

Through it all, Dad was the unquestioned leader, the generous provider, and the respected O’Neill family patriarch.  Thousands of people knew and loved Tom. Indeed, his was a life well lived filled with love, happiness, faith, family, and friends.

His family would like to thank The Village at St. Edward and his special private caregiver and friend, Fey Ray, as well as Summa Hospice for their kind and loving care.  We are very grateful.

We would love for all who knew him to come and celebrate his life with us.  Bring a picture or tell a story.  There are so many, and you know Sally would love to see you and hear them all.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, February 14 from 5-8 PM at Hilliard-Rospert Funeral home (174 N. Lyman Street, Wadsworth, OH 44281).  Mass of Christian burial will be Thursday, February 15, at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Wadsworth (260 Broad Street, Wadsworth, OH 44281). A time of celebration will be held afterwards at Sacred Heart of Jesus banquet hall.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Dad’s memory to:  The Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis (3838 Massillon Road, Suite 360, Uniontown, OH 44685), Sacred Heart of Jesus Church (260 Broad Street, Wadsworth, OH 44281), Summa Health Foundation (525 East Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44304) or The Village of St. Edward (3131 Smith Road, Fairlawn, OH 44333).