O’Neill, Daniel J.

Fairport, NY 

“Keep your head down and swing easy.”

Dan O’Neill offered that advice, on the golf course, and for life, to the people who meant the most to him. It’s how he drew the ball on the fairways. It’s how he guided family and friends as a foundation person in their lives.

Daniel J. O’Neill II lived to 86. He passed away February 27, 2022.

Born to Daniel J. O’Neill the first and Genevieve (Quinlivan) O’Neill in Binghamton, NY March 24, 1935, Dan was a proud Irishman . His family came to this country two generations before from County Clare, settling in New York, then Northern Pennsylvania (Pleasant Mount) and later, the Twin Tiers of New York State. 

As devout Catholics, Dan and his family attended Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Binghamton. His experience as an altar boy and committed Catholic shaped his life. 

So did golf.

Dan’s father taught him at an early age. Dan played both competitively at both the high school and collegiate ranks. In the mid 1950s, Dan was the caddy master at Binghamton Country Club. 

After graduating from Binghamton High School, Dan’s faith and love of “the game” guided his collegiate choice: St. Bonaventure University. 

Dan engaged with the university’s Franciscan friars and the example they set for his college experience. Dan would later share that he had considered joining the friars’ religious order, the Order of Franciscans Minor.

He studied economics at St. Bonaventure, contributed to campus activities that ranged from the student newspaper and radio station to the junior prom. Dan captained the Bonnies varsity golf team and, like a “true Bonaventure man” appreciated the service at The Burton frequently enough to have enjoyed “a few burgers at a late hour.” He cheered St. Bonaventure’s Men’s Basketball team through the years, took every opportunity to visit campus and the Franciscan mountain retreat started by friars from the university, Mt. Irenaeus. 

St. Bonaventure also introduced Dan to the love of his life.

He met one of the first women to earn a diploma from St. Bonaventure University.  Marguerite Joan Martina of Albion, NY had graduated the spring before Dan’s senior year at Bonas. They dated as Joan worked as a social worker in nearby Olean.  Four months after Dan graduated, they were wed, on September 14, 1957.  They would be married 64 years in a life together that began in Albion, moved to Johnson City and Conklin, NY and then, returned north to Gates, NY before settling for 55 years in Fairport, NY.

Together, Dan and Joan raised nine children; Mary O’Neill (David Isabella,) Anne O’Neill-Simon (Rick Simon,) Vincent O’Neill (Clare Berkery,) Charles O’Neill (Karen Abbott,) Daniel O’Neill (Pam Halpin,) John O’Neill (Anne Marie Fiumara,) Sara O’Neill-Aroune (Jim,) Caroline Mrva (Matt,) James O’Neill (Shannon Szymkiewicz.) 

Dan and Joan’s children provided 24 loving grandchildren: Ben Kirnie, Seth Kirnie (Constance) and Rachel Kirnie, Julia Klemensic, Brendan Klemensic and Audra Klemensic, Timothy O’Neill and Patrick O’Neill, Cassian O’Neill, Nora O’Neill, Declan O’Neill, Fiona O’Neill and Finnian O’Neill, Emily O’Neill and Margaret O’Neill, Kayla O’Neill-Carriker (Adam,) and Marissa O’Neill, Catherine Aroune (Gabe Klemick), Clare Aroune and Caroline Aroune, Jacob Mrva and Madeline Mrva, Calliope O’Neill and Beatrix O’Neill. 

Dan was also a cherished uncle to the O’Neill family nieces and nephews: Ellen Redner, Peter Redner, Laura Whitcraft, Michael O’Neill and Stephen O’Neill.

He is predeceased by his sister, Nancy Beishline of Binghamton, NY and is survived by his brother James O’Neill (Marilyn) of Reston, VA. 

Dan worked at Xerox Corporation for 34 years. As a buyer for the company, he worked at offices in most of the Xerox footprint in the Rochester area, including Henrietta, downtown and Webster. Dan retired from the company in 1998. 

As he established his career at Xerox, Dan also co-managed Joan’s family’s business; a chain of movie theaters and drive-ins in the Rochester area. Together, including the Starlight Drive-In, the Holiday Cine and Waring Theatre in Rochester.

Lines from movies featured at the O’Neill theaters grew the family lexicon. From The Princess Bride, Dan could be heard yelling across the house “My name is Inigo Montoya! You killed my father. Prepare to die!” 

Like any clan, Dan’s family shared a common language, based in Pig Latin; of which Dan was Professor Emeritus. Anyone underdressed for winter temperatures was “cool, but cold.” Rest breaks on family trips required “double safeties.” Chores and orders left unanswered led to Dan’s “joking” to “kick your butt up and down the driveway.” And as moderator of all dinner-time conversations, Dan could signal a close to debate with a steady knock from the underside of the kitchen table. 

Calling Hours will be held Wednesday, March 2, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Keenan’s Funeral Home, 7501 Pittsford-Palmyra Road, Fairport, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Church of the Resurrection, 63 Mason Road, Fairport, NY. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider donations to St. Bonaventure University or the Alzheimer’s Association .