LTG (Ret.) Daniel J. O'Neill

General Daniel Joseph O’Neill, 78, of Honesdale, a long-time educator and school administrator, distinguished military officer, active civic leader, and irreplaceable center of his family, died unexpectedly on July 28, 2015.
Gen. O’Neill was born and raised in Pleasant Mount, PA, the son of Eleanor M. and Paul L. O’Neill, and was a lifelong resident of Wayne County. He was a graduate of Pleasant Mount High School Class of 1955, where he was a basketball star who averaged over 30 points a game as a senior. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Scranton in 1959, where he was a six time letter-winner in basketball and baseball. He is an inductee of the Wayne, Lackawanna and Luzerne County Sports Halls of Fame. Gen. O’Neill went on to earn Master degrees from the University of Scranton and Lehigh University.
Gen. O’Neill was a career educator. He began teaching in the Susquehanna School District, where he also coached varsity baseball and basketball. In 1969 Gen. O’Neill moved to the Wayne Highlands School District, where he served as the Honesdale High School Assistant Principal until 1972 and High School Principal through 1989. Gen. O’Neill was then appointed Superintendant of Schools for Wayne Highlands School District where he served from 1989 through 1999, and where he oversaw numerous building and sports complex projects. In all, he spent nearly 40 years serving his community as an educator to thousands of students in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Gen. O’Neill had over 35 years of distinguished commissioned service in the U.S. Army and Pennsylvania National Guard. He received his commission in the Military Police as a Distinguished Reserve Officer Training Corps Graduate from the University of Scranton in 1959. Thereafter he attended the Military Police Officer Basic Course and served on active duty as a platoon leader in the 716th MP Battalion at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Upon returning to Pennsylvania, Gen. O’Neill joined the Pennsylvania National Guard. Gen. O’Neill is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College, the National Security Management Course, and in 1984 graduated from the United States Army War College. Gen. O’Neill served in numerous Pennsylvania National Guard command and staff positions including as the Commander of Company A, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry (Mechanized), Honesdale, PA, Commander of the 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry (Mechanized) and as the 55th Brigade Commander in Scranton, PA. In 1989 Gen. O’Neill was appointed commander of the 28th Infantry Division (Mechanized), its 30th Commander, where he led over 17,000 Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers and served with distinction from 1989 until 1994. He held every command position from platoon leader as a 2nd Lieutenant through Division Commander as a Major General. Gen. O’Neill was awarded numerous awards and medals through his military service, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Army Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Component Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Gen. O’Neill was a tireless community leader. He served on numerous boards and charities, including serving as the President of the Suburban Football Conference; Director of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s District 12; a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Controllers; a member of the Board of Directors of Wayne County Bank and Trust Co.; and Chairman of the Wayne Memorial Hospital Authority Board. He was a founding member of “E-Z Construction Company,” an organization made up of Honesdale community leaders who organized and built the Honesdale Community Pool, and he led many more civic minded groups and movements all toward the betterment of the Honesdale, Wayne County and Northeastern Pennsylvania communities.
Gen. O’Neill was also a private pilot of fixed wing aircraft with a love of flying and aviation that he shared with anyone who would join him aloft. He was a sports enthusiast who was a fixture in the bleachers at Honesdale High School sporting events and an avid reader and authority on military history. He also refereed high school and college basketball games for nearly 25 years. For the past 10 years, Gen. O’Neill enjoyed spending winters at his home in Florida golfing and entertaining many friends.
Of all Gen. O’Neill’s accomplishments, his greatest was his family. He is survived by his loving wife of over 55 years, Alice (Hauenstein), to whom he was married at St. Juliana’s Catholic Church, Rock Lake, PA on December 19, 1959. He is also survived by his four beloved children and 10 grandchildren: his daughter Kelly Maton, M.D., her husband Bruno, and their children Marie and Michael Maton; his daughter Erin Shine, MBA, her husband Michael, and their children Chelsea Shine Wilson (Tyler), Regan, Daniel, and Madeline Shine; his daughter Sandra Rickard, MS, her husband Martin, and their children Elizabeth and Jack Rickard; and his son Michael J. O’Neill, Esq., his wife Erin, and their children Emelia and Eleanor Grace O’Neill. He is also survived by his siblings Gerard O’Neill, Benjamin O’Neill (Mary), and Kathleen Merring (Elwood). He was preceded in death by his infant son Daniel J. O’Neill, Jr., and brothers Paul O’Neill (Marie) and John O’Neill (Ruth). He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.
General O’Neill’s legacy of leadership, service, integrity and unwavering commitment to his family, community and country will live on in the hearts of his family and friends forever.
Friends may visit at the Lemnitzer Armory in Honesdale on Sunday, August 2nd from 3:00-7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, August 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, Honesdale. General O’Neill will be laid to rest with military honors in St. Juliana’s Cemetery in Rock Lake. Arrangements by Hessling Funeral Home, Inc., 428 Main St. Honesdale.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that any donations be made to the Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors Foundation at PAWW c/o Helen Sajer, President, 1117 Country Club Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011.