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| Governor O’Neill Dies; Supported 100 Club |
Gov. William A. O’Neill died Nov. 24 following a
long battle with emphysema. The longest serving
chief executive in the modern history of the
state was a strong supporter of The Hundred
Club. He delivered the main address at the
club’s annual meeting on several occasions while
he was governor and continued to attend the
sessions after he left office. Also, he
regularly attended the dinner following the
club’s golf tournaments.
A recipient of the club’s Distinguished Public
Service Award, Mr. O’Neill was named an Honorary
Life Member in 1997 during the presidency of
Peter H.Guerra While governor, Mr. O’Neill made
certain that State Police operations were
adequately funded. Firefighters were also of
special concern. During his final year in
office, Mr. O’Neill provided the funds for the
construction of the Connecticut Fire Academy,
Windsor Locks.
Mr. O’Neill is credited with playing a major
role in the construction of the Law Enforcement
Memorial, Meriden.
Born in Hartford Aug. 16, 1930, the son of
Joseph and Frances Quinn O’Neill, he grew up in
East Hampton and graduated from the local high
school. Mr. O’Neill attended New Britain
Teachers’ College (now Central Connecticut State
University) and theUniversity ofHartford. During
the Korean Conflict he was amember of the U.S.
Air Force. As a turret gunner on B-29 aircraft,
he flew several combat missions.
The proprietor of O’Neill’s Tavern in East
Hampton, a business started by his father, he
was active in local government before being
elected to the House of Representatives in 1966.
By 1975 he was its majority leader.
In 1978 he was elected lieutenant governor and
succeeded Gov. Ella T. Grasso when illness
forced her resignation Dec. 31, 1980.
As governor, Mr. O’Neill reorganized the higher
education system, raised the salaries of all
teachers and increased the funding for
practically all people oriented programs.
Following the collapse of the Mianus River
Bridge in Greenwich he launched a 10-year $6.5
billion infrastructure renewal program.
Mr. O’Neill won gubernatorial elections in 1982
and ‘86. In 1990 he announced his retirement. In
January, 1991 he returned to the O’Neills’ home
in East Hampton.
During the Mass of Christian Burial in St.
Patrick’s Church, East Hampton, Gov.M. Jodi Rell
said “He (Mr. O’Neill) never lost himself in the
glory of being governor. He was simply Bill
O’Neill, someone who loved politics and public
service” She noted that Mr. O’Neill was too
often underestimated and under appreciated.Mrs.
Rell looked at his widow and said, “Nikki, thank
you for sharing him with us.”
Rev. Charles R. LeBlanc, pastor of St.
Patrick’s, declared that Mr. O’Neill was “the
salt of the earth.” Two longtime friends, Atty.
James Wade and former state Senator George
Hannon, also spoke. Three bishops and several
priests were present in the sanctuary. Mr.
O’Neill was buried in the Veterans’ Cemetery in
Middletown. He leaves his wife of 45 years,
Natalie Scott Damon O’Neill, a retired school
teacher.
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