Obituary of James D. O'Neill

James O’Neill passed away at home on Sunday, April 23, 2017. He shared 68 years of love and laughter with his family and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 28th at 10 am at Assumption Church, 91 Maple Ave., Morristown. Interment of Ashes to follow at St. Cecilia’s Cemetery, Rockaway, NJ. Memorial Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 27th from 4-8 pm at the Norman Dean Home For Services, 16 Righter Ave., Denville. Donations in his name may be made to the good work of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation by way of www.inmemoryof-memorial.org. Jim was born in Brooklyn to the late Joseph and Teresa O’Neill. After his schooling, he moved to New Jersey with his wife Dorothy where they raised three sons. He began a long successful career at Ingersoll Rand, retiring in 2003. James was a swim official for many years and served as the NJ Official Chair and Treasurer and Chairman of NJ Swimming. He started his swim career early and his high school water polo team was the first and only team to head to the Olympic Trials. When he had children of his own, he quickly got them into the water. Outside of swimming, Jim was a social guy. He had many stories and loved to tell them to anyone who would listen. He seemed to know someone wherever he went, often shocking his family in other states across the country. Jim truly was the friendliest person you could ever meet. His heart of gold and dear soul will be missed beyond words. Predeceased by his first wife Dorothy and his son Ian O’Neill, he leaves happy memories to his wife Kathleen (nee Evans); his sons Brian O’Neill and Andrew and Marisa O’Neill; adored grandson Mack O’Neill; siblings Kathleen Brown (Robert) and Thomas O’Neill (Kathy) step children and grandchildren Kathleen Vita, Joseph Vita (Melissa), Nicole Vita (Carl Hasberg), Robert Vita (Wanetta), Elizabeth Vita and Michael Vita (Tracy), Paige, Tulsa, Cali, Case, Aspen, Benjamin. Daniel, Lucas, Taylor and Tess; and many more dear relatives, friends, acquaintances and colleagues.