HAVERHILL: Richard D. “Dick” O’Neil, 85, passed away on March 5, 2014 in the Merrimack Valley Hospice House, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Sondra O. (Smith) O’Neil with whom he shared sixty-two years of marriage and the blessing of six children.
He was born in Haverhill on August 3, 1928 and was the son of the late William C. and Helen G. (Moran) O’Neil. He was a lifelong resident of Haverhill and a graduate of Haverhill High School class of 1947. He also attended classes in Law Enforcement at Northeastern University. In grade school and high school he excelled at sports. As a senior, Richard earned three letters in baseball, football and basketball and was a member of several Capo Athletic Club baseball and basketball teams.
He was especially proud of the service of his three older brothers, Buddy, Eddie and Bob, in World War II and declined an athletic scholarship at Northeastern University to instead serve two terms on the destroyer escort USS Robert H. McCard. They were later joined in service by their younger brother Howie.
Growing up during the Depression he hawked newspapers in front of downtown diners and worked as a pin boy in basement bowling alleys. He worked as Police Officer for thirty years for the City of Haverhill Police Department where he often walked the beat in Lafayette Square. To help support his growing family he also ran a Christmas tree stand with his sons for many years at the family home. He was a parishioner of St. James Church and was a member and past president of the Haverhill Police Relief Association.
Golfing with police buddies was a passion. His foursome with Smokey, Sully and Jackie was a familiar sight for years at the Crystal Springs Golf Course. In the 1980’s he was politically active with local neighborhood groups. With his wife Sunny he was a charter member of the Haverhill Recycling Committee. In his later years he enjoyed going to yard sales, especially to buy record albums for his son’s vintage record store in Switzerland. He achieved greatness as a grandfather. The Early Bird Café in Plaistow, NH witnessed many funny moments when “Bumpa” held court with his grandchildren there every Saturday.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two sons, Richard and his wife, Annelise (Jendt) O’Neil of Zurich, Switzerland and Colin B. and his wife, Mary (Roche) O’Neil of Haverhill; three daughters, Debra A. and her husband, Robert Tandy, Pamela S. Howard and Rebecca S. Smith all of Haverhill; seven grandchildren, Tiffany C. Howard, Alexander O. and William M. Smith, Colin C. and Kathleen M. O’Neil, all of Haverhill, Jacqueline P. and her husband, Chad Hanscom of Dover NH and Brian A. O’Neil of Zurich, Switzerland; two great-grandchildren, Chad and Colby Hanscom of Dover NH and several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his son, Michael D. O’Neil; brothers, William, Edward, Robert and Howard O’Neil and sisters, Helen Huberdeau and Patricia Collins.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday in the Linnehan Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Ave, Haverhill from 4 - 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday in the funeral home at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in the St. James Church, 161 Winter St., Haverhill at 10 a.m. Interment will be privately held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Richard’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.