Michael G. O'Neill

Michael G. O’Neill, beloved husband of the late Janet (Connolly) O’Neill, passed away on July 21, 2023.  Born in Middletown, County Armagh, Ireland, he is the loving son of the late Michael and Margaret O’Neill.

Michael grew up in Ireland and came by boat to America in 1962, landing in New York and traveling to Medford where he resided with his parents, sister and brother. A fond memory of his was discovering Dilboy Stadium in nearby Somerville and the Gaelic Athletic Association. A talented athlete, he joined the County Cavan Gaelic Football team and served as Assistant Secretary. Michael and Janet met on a blind date, and eventually settled in North Reading to raise their family.

Michael graduated from Northeastern University and became a Professional Civil Engineer, having worked for Edwards and Kelcey and the Boston Water Sewer Commission, until he started his own business, O’Neill Associates, in North Reading. He used his engineering expertise to help create valued recreation space for the town. As a member of the Land Utilization Committee, Michael was instrumental in the design of Ipswich River Park, and later designed the turf field at the North Reading High School.

He was an accomplished ballroom dancer and enjoyed playing the piano and harmonica. He was an excellent cook and was known for his Irish soda bread, chicken marsala, apple pies and Christmas cakes. Michael was at home in the outdoors, spending his time fly fishing, gardening, planting flowers and teaching his grandchildren about the birds in the yard. He was a fixture on the sidelines of his grandchildren’s sports, rain or shine. Adding to his volunteer efforts, he was a soccer coach for many years, assisted in bringing the Fall Kick-Off Classic soccer tournament to North Reading, was Co-President of Friends Fighting Breast Cancer, a charity started by his late-wife, and served as a member of Trout Unlimited.  Michael was a true gentleman, dedicated to his family and town and will be sorely missed.

Michael is the devoted father of Michael R. O’Neill and his fiancé Andrea Kincer of Florida and Katie Britton and her husband Curtis of North Reading.  Cherished grandfather of Kevin and Owen Britton.  Loving brother of Maureen Wallis of Scituate and Sean O’Neill and his wife Julie of Florida.  Beloved uncle of Sean Wallis, Sean O’Neill, and Molly and Nora Leach.  Loving brother in law of Joanne Leach and her husband Michael of Wakefield.

A Funeral will be held from the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St., North Reading, (Corner of Park St. and Rt. 28 at the Reading Line) on Monday, July 31, 2021 at 9:30 am, followed by a Funeral Mass being celebrated at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St., North Reading at 10:30am.  Interment to follow in Riverside Cemetery, North Reading. 

Family and friends are cordially invited to visiting hours at the Cota Funeral Home on Sunday, July 30th, 2023 from 4 to 7pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Michael’s Memory to North Reading Youth Soccer: NRYS, PO Box 249, North Reading, MA 01864 with the memo “O’Neill Scholarship”.

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