Rickard Thomas "Rick" O'Neil

1937 - 2014

O'Neil, Rickard Thomas "Rick" 76 years of age, of Whitefish Bay. Rick Entered Eternal Life on Friday, January 3, 2014, at 2:52 PM, after a valiant 21 year fight against Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). He was surrounded by his wife and children when he departed this life. Rick was born on March 22, 1937 in Toronto, Canada, to Charles Joseph O'Neil and Katherine Marie O'Neil (nee Brennan), both college professors. A man with an inherent curiosity and thirst for knowledge, Rick had a deep respect for education. He attended Saint Robert grade school and graduated from Marquette University High School. Rick enrolled in Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA where he was an English major and in the ROTC, U.S. Navy. Upon graduation, he served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. He was based at North Island Naval Station in San Diego, California and served on various ships in the Pacific fleet, including the U.S.S. Bennington (aircraft carrier). Following his service in the U.S. Navy, he attended Harvard Law School. Rick married his high school sweetheart, Barbara (nee Schweiger), on June 11, 1960 at Holy Family Parish in Whitefish Bay. The two met on the #15 bus on the way to high school. Barbara was a student at Holy Angels Academy where Rick's mother taught. After law school, Rick returned to Milwaukee with his young family to practice law at Michael, Best & Friedrich, where he became a partner and practiced anti-trust and commercial litigation until he retired. Rick and Barbara built their life in Whitefish Bay where they raised their five children together. He was a member of the Whitefish Bay School Board for 15 years. He was also a dedicated blood donor and platelet donor until his CLL diagnosis. He was a lifelong member of Holy Family Parish. Rick is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara, and their five children: Michael O'Neil (Karen), of Sacramento, CA; John O'Neil (Patricia), of Glendale, WI; Susan O'Neil (Sundeep Pati), of Austin, TX; Sarah O'Neil, of Chicago, IL; and, Amy O'Neil, of Dallas, TX. Proud Bapa of eight grand-daughters: Lauren, Caitlyn, and Claire, of Sacramento, CA; Katie, Maggie, Ellie, Carrie, and Mollie, of Glendale, WI. Other relatives and close friends also mourning: brother, Steve (Mary Beth) O'Neil, of Bethesda, MD; brother in-law, William Gericke, of Philadelphia, PA; sister, Maureen O'Neil, of Milwaukee, WI; sister in-law, Susan Azargoshasb, of Glendale, WI; nieces: Katherine Walsh, Margaret Ellis, Beth Ann Gdowik, Bridget Lawler, Carolyn Lawler, Homa Azargoshasb; nephews: Dr. Timothy O'Neil, Daniel O'Neil, Billy Gericke, and Christian Lawler; and, lifelong friend, high school debate partner, and another uncle to Rick's children, Joseph Zedrosser, of New York, NY. Rick was preceded in death by family members and friend: sister, Mary Kay Gericke, sister Mary Michaela O'Neil; niece, Mickey Gericke; friend, Antonina Krass (Zedrosser). Rick loved Barbara, his children, grand children and special friends more than he could express in words. He was an avid reader with interests in a variety of subjects including World War II, naval history, Irish history, the American West, and US and global politics and culture. He enjoyed listening to Beethoven, Mozart, opera, and watching classic movies. Rick enjoyed traveling with Barbara, frequently taking road trips to attend his daughters' basketball games, grand daughters' theater performances, to visit the children where they lived, and just for curiosity - the scenic route. Together, Rick and Barbara made special memorable trips to Ireland, Death Valley, CA, and New York City where they enjoyed the sites and meeting interesting people. He was a proud citizen of both the United States and Ireland. To celebrate Rick's life there will be a visitation from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Sunday, January 12th at Feerick Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 13th at 11:30 am at Holy Family Catholic Church in Whitefish Bay with burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery. In loving memory of Rick, the family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center at St Luke's Hospital or the Blood Center of Wisconsin. The family humbly pleas that all consider becoming a blood or platelet donor. These donors are true angels on earth and offer the gift of continued life for people in the community. There is a dire need for donors. The family wishes to acknowledge the extraordinary generosity of the many anonymous blood and platelet donors who aided Rick's survival. Because of these remarkable people, Rick and his family experienced more time together. Also critical to Rick's survival was the outstanding care he received from his doctors and nurses over the years. The family would also like to thank Brian Buggy, MD, Margery Howard, MD, and John Gribben, MD as well as the phenomenal nurses and technicians at the St. Luke's Vince Lombardi Cancer Center, 12th floor Oncology unit, and 8th floor Cardiac ICU. All of these individuals hold a special place in the hearts of Barbara and Rick's children.