Patrick Kieran O'Neill

Patrick Kieran O'Neill, 94, of South Windsor, Connecticut, passed away on October 27, 2025. He was born on November 9, 1930, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the son of Eugene (Hugh) O'Neill and Margaret O'Neill (née Gorman).
Patrick graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1952 with a Bachelor's in Geophysics and went on to earn a Master's in Optical Engineering from the University of Rochester in 1957. After beginning his career at Argus Camera (1957–1962), he joined Itek (now part of Northrop Grumman) in 1962, where he worked for over thirty years until his retirement around 1996. Patrick loved his work building high-definition military cameras and testing lenses for large research telescopes. Retirement did not keep him away from the work he loved: Patrick continued his professional involvement working on telescopes with the Space Optics Research Laboratory for another decade before finally retiring to Florida.
In 1956 he married Stella Marie Furlong; the marriage ended in 1987. In August 1988 he married Marilyn French, who predeceased him in 1999.
Patrick is survived by his three daughters and their husbands: Karen Heinemann and Nigel Heinemann, Terry Yanaway and Dana Yanaway, and Erin Tracy O'Neill-Toy and Edmond Toy. He was the oldest of six children and is survived by his siblings Julie Moore, Carol O'Neill, and Michael O'Neill, as well as predeceased by his brothers Dennis O'Neill and Brian O'Neill. He is also survived by seven beloved grandchildren: Sierra Yanaway, Lyrica Yanaway, Kieran Yanaway, Ryan Toy, Bryn Heinemann, Joanna Toy, and Quinn Yanaway. Patrick was never happier than when he was surrounded by his family, especially on a beach in Florida.
Outside of his professional achievements, Patrick enjoyed a full life of simple pleasures: playing golf and tennis, listening and dancing to old time rock and roll, spending time sunbathing on the beach, and cheering on his favorite teams - especially the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox. He particularly looked forward to spending time with his siblings, nieces and nephews on their annual vacation to Sarasota.
An internment service will be held on November 8, 2025, at the Sleepy Hollow cemetery in Concord, Massachusetts at 2pm. Those who wish to share memories, condolences, or photographs may contact the family directly. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Wildlife Sanctuary (https://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org/donate) to help the tigers that he loved so dearly.