Hugh R. "Dewey" O'Neil, 71, of Bedford, died peacefully January 3, 2013 at the Catholic Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in Manchester on October 15, 1941, the son of Catherine (Thornton) O'Neil and Hugh R. O'Neil, former Editor-in-Chief of the Manchester Union Leader.
He was educated in the local school system, graduating from Bishop Bradley in 1959. He attended St. Mary’s College in Halifax and earned his bachelors degree (by the skin of his teeth) from St. Anselm College in 1964.
He graduated Officer Candidate School and served during the Vietnam War. During the war, at the ripe old age of 24, he lead young men he referred to as “kids” as a Marine Corp engineer, alternatively building and blowing up bridges. He earned two Purple Hearts, and the pride he felt being a Marine was one he carried with him all his days.
Dewey was owner and operator of the Hugh R. O'Neil Real Estate Company for many years. In his 30 years of service, his gift of gab and persuasive ways helped him raise millions of dollars on behalf of Easter Seals. He was also involved in Catholic Charities as well as serving as the Commander in Chief of the now-defunct Bedford chapter of the IRA.
He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend who will be greatly missed. His sense of humor is legendary to all who knew him, and has been passed down to at least two surviving generations.
Family members include his wife of 47 years Joan (Thornton) O'Neil of Bedford; two sons, Hugh "DJ" O'Neil and wife Renee of San Francisco; Michael O'Neil of Lebanon; one daughter, Erin Hendrick and husband Greg of Newton, MA; four grandchildren, Finn and Macie O'Neil of San Francisco, Jack and Ryan Hendrick of Newton, MA; one sister, Mary Alice Venuto and husband Lou of Potomac, MD; many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. He was predeceased by his brother Thomas O'Neil in 2011.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Monday, January 7, 2013 in St. Elizabeth Seton Church, Meetinghouse Road, Bedford. Burial with military honors followed in the NH State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Easter Seals of NH, 555 Auburn St, Manchester, NH 03103 or to the Santa Fund, Care of the NH Union Leader, PO Box 9555, Manchester, NH 03108.