James Francis O'Neill

James Francis O'Neill of Bel Air, Maryland, died on November 12, 2012, at Stella Maris Hospice Care in Timonium, MD. He was 86 years old.

Born June 30, 1926, he was the son of the late Howard S. O'Neill and Madeleine Robinson O'Neill. He graduated from St. Margaret Elementary School in 1939, and Bel Air High School in 1943. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he graduated from Loyola College in Baltimore with a BS degree in Physics in 1948, and two years later graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. In 1952, he received a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of MD School of Law. He received a BS degree in Accounting, in 1965, from the Baltimore College of Commerce. In 1969, he received his juris doctor degree from the University of Maryland.

After graduating from Johns Hopkins, he worked for Westinghouse in Detroit, MI, and Baltimore, MD, as an Electrical Engineer. He then joined his father's law firm specializing in Insurance and Accounting. He was elected as a Commissioner of the Town of Bel Air in 1969, and served as Mayor from 1971-1975. After retiring from the practice of law, he moved to Selbyville, DE. He lived there for over 25 years and was active in the ministry at St. Andrew's and St. Luke's Catholic Churches in Ocean City, Maryland. In 2010, he returned to Bel Air and was a resident at Avondell.

He is survived by his former wife, Margaret L. O'Neill of Naples, FL, and four daughters: Maureen Cooper and her husband, Terry, of San Francisco, CA, Kathleen Buechel of Bel Air, MD, Colleen O'Neill of Cornish, NH, and Eileen O'Neill of Burbank, CA; three granddaughters, Holly Buechel of New York, NY, Bonnie Buechel and Kelly Buechel of South Orange, NJ, and an adopted grandson Paul of Bel Air. He is also survived by two brothers, Harry O'Neill of Baltimore, MD, and Dan O'Neill of Bel Air, MD; and two sisters, Peggy Creel of Arlington, VA and Nancy Rideout of Lebanon, NH. He was predeceased by his siblings Betty O'Neill McComas, John H. O'Neill and Thomas H. R. O'Neill.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Broad Creek Scout Reservation Memorial/Tribute Fund (http://www.broadcreekbsa.org under "Support Broad Creek" tab) or the charity of one's choice.