Surrounded by his loving family, Michael Andrew O’Neill, a long time resident of Lower Gwynedd, PA died peacefully at his home on August 17, 2019. He was 68 years old.
Mike was the beloved husband of 40 years to Heather (nee Munro), adored father to children Ian and Ross (Lea) of Ocean City, NJ, Lisle Sanna (Christopher) of Wilmington DE, and Bryn of Ardmore, PA, and grandchildren Bray, Munro, and Sutton Sanna.
Raised in Cazenovia NY, he was the loving brother of Patrick O’Neill of Boston, MA, Maureen (Martin McGovern) of Oxford UK, Elizabeth MacCaughey of Winchester, MA, and Timothy (Patti) O’Neill of Cincinnati, OH. Mike was also a favored uncle to numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Elizabeth (Hesburgh) and Robert O’Neill, brother Robert, and sister-in-law Jayne O’Neill.
Mike was the rarest of souls, a selfless man who never took himself seriously while always putting others first. Mike was a child of small town America, an Eagle Scout, raised in upstate New York. He carried an enduring curiosity and a sincere interest in getting to know people wherever he went. He earned a rotary scholarship to Argentina in 1966. After returning from South America, his family relocated from Cazenovia to Norwich NY, and his penchant for quickly making friends resulted in being elected senior class president at Norwich High School. His easy going nature and almost complete lack of ego served him well throughout his illustrious career as an international negotiator for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. A worldly man, he spoke 3 languages and visited 5 continents and 65 countries.
Mike loved family, travel, and college football. Family vacations tended to have circuitous routes that always seemed to find the family making their way to places like Happy Valley or South Bend, Indiana, where Mike graduated from the University of Notre Dame. He loved National Parks and camping, and made it a priority in his life to steal a month away from work each summer to pack the family into a van and head to many of America’s greatest natural wonders. Mike saved a special place in his heart for Ocean City, New Jersey, where early beach morning walks with black labs Perry and Dexter were often made to the important OC landmarks, like Ward’s Pastry.
Mike met the love of his life, Heather, while attending Georgetown University’s Master’s School of Foreign Service. The moment Mike first saw Heather, he told a complete stranger sitting next to him in class, “I’m going to marry her.” On their first date, and having forgotten to bring flowers, Mike improvised a bouquet from a nearby garden and a Campbell’s Soup can, because it’s always the thought that counts. Heather became his number one, the foundation of his life, and their marriage was long-lasting and full of love.
Following his retirement, Mike joined the “Ambler Writers Group” where he honed his lifelong love of words and crafted a novel entitled, “Wolfdog”, which carries the inscription, “a small town, a big dog, and the family he raised.”
One of Mikey’s favorite sayings, which was representative of the manner with which he lived his life was, “be generous in small ways.” Those who called him friend or family knew he was generous in big ways, too.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend his funeral Mass at 11:00am on Friday, August 23, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 16 South Spring Garden Street, Ambler, PA. Guests are invited to visit the family at the Simcox-McIlvaine Funeral Home at 532 East Main Street in Lansdale, PA 19446 from 4pm to 8pm on Thursday, August 22, 2019 or on Friday, August 23 from 9am to 11am at St. Joseph Catholic Church prior to Mass.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike’s memory may be made to either Ursinus College https://www.ursinus.edu/support-uc/or to the University of Notre Dame https://donate.nd.edu/.
Dear Heather and family of Michael,
I’m saddened to read and hear of Michaels passing. We had a brief friendship in Innsbruck, Austria, Sophmore Year. Attending mass, night carriage riding, skiing was great fun with a group of about 13 young people. Mostly Notre Dam students, except myself and two sisters from Seattle, Sunny and Jody Hillman. Early ‘76 or ‘77 Michael was in San Diego for business (I believe) we had a bike ride around Coronado with my young son on the back of my bike. Many years later on a telephone call we caught up on life, children and I believe he was starting his own business. A kind, generous, lovely gentleman. Unforgettable. I was hoping some day we would meet again
To reminisce over some escapades we had in
Europe, during the 4(?) months we were friends.
My Deepest Sympathies to all of Michaels family & friends. Kathleen (O’Toole) Herlihy~Gaylord
Dear Heather and Family,
I am sitting here in Dublin shocked at the news that Mike is gone. Mike was the mentor that every new member of an international company such as Wyeth needed. He was always available with practical advice and was delighted to see his colleagues progress in their careers.
Michele and I were delighted to have dinner with both of you during one of your visits to Ireland. Even as we all went our separate ways from Wyeth, Mike was the one person who emailed us and kept our “online” community alive.
He was a man who spoke so lovingly about you and his children. He was a role model for building a brilliant corporate career while always putting his family first and living by his core values.
He was loved the world over. We will all miss him.
Love,
Peter O’Brien.
Dear Heather and family,
You were blessed with an exceptional individual as husband, father and grandfather. Many of his friends of which I had the privilege to be one were also honored and blessed with his friendship.
I’m so glad I was able to see him before he passed away, heartbreaking as it was.
Mike was a force of nature but above all of kindness and joviality.
Now that he’s been called by the Lord, you all, and us as friends as well, will have another Guardian Angel looking after us from heaven.
May he Rest In Peace. God bless you all
Dear Heather and family,
On this sad rainy day I must offer you all my most sincere condolences. I can’t imagine a more lovable husband, father and grandpa than Mike.
Thank you for letting him share in our Tuesday night contract at Kinetix for the time being. We loved his presence on the court and his upbeat attitude.
Let’s pick up our rackets again and hit balls as soon as you are up for it.
I’m ready when you are!
We’ll take it from there.
Lots of love, Antonie
Heather and Family, please accept our sincere condolences. We will miss Mike but he will always be in our thoughts and our memories.
I was surprised and saddened to hear from our mutual friend Aracelia Vila of Mike O’Neill’s passing. Although our contact was brief in recent years, I recall well our trade group visit to China’s Great Wall 25 years ago last month. When the crowds got too big, I joined him on his Fighting Irish version of the Long March. The two of us walked – and walked – until we were finally alone. We bounded up the watchtower and saw the view unencumbered by others, as only one should see it in a country of one billion. I was grateful for his lead, his companionship – and the great silence.
So when memory speaks, even in the passage of time, I can offer this condolence: somewhere, in someone’s mind or heart, Mike O’Neill will always be there.
Our best respects to Heather and family,
Bill Looney and Andrea Mackiewicz
My one and only encounter with Mike was at a gathering in Ocean City this past Easter. I regret there weren’t more. The sense of family there was invigorating, culminating in an egg hunt with the kids. Mike arrived late that day, delayed by cooking up a ham I believe, but made a point of quickly sitting down beside me, father to father. We covered a lot of ground in a small amount of time: raising kids, the importance of relationships, traveling, camping, dogs, landmarks in Georgetown like “the tombs” and the house from ”the exorcist“, providing medicine to poor countries and the poor in this country, how we met our wives, and how he loved to take the family to see “ Jesus Christ Superstar ”. So please try to be at peace, Mike’s in good company still! Turns out I didn’t know but a fraction of his life. He didn’t put on airs. He was so mild-mannered and down to earth. The conversation flowed easily. I was very comfortable with him. As my wife and I were leaving, coming into the living room, there was Mike and Heather sitting closely on the couch together. To this relative stranger, they were still so obviously a happy couple. I joked that this was a Kodak moment, and pretended to take a picture of them. But later I wish I actually had. Such special moments are the pictures we want to take with us! I partly stole that line from “Meet Joe Black”. Take a watch; it’s right on time here for this great man! Jake Straughn
On behalf of the Norwich High School Class of 1969, I wish to extend our condolences to Mike’s family and friends. We were looking forward to seeing Mike at our 50 year reunion in September but as we gather, we will be thinking of him and I am sure will share fond memories.
Dear Heather, Ian, Lisle, Ross, Bryn and all the rest of the family,
When Maureen and Lyssa told us in June 2108 of Mike’s diagnosis it was a somber moment. We knew Mike was an optimist and put his “reservation” at the “Hall Inn” on our calendar. We had so enjoyed his visit for his 45th Norwich High School reunion and hoped against hope that he would make the 50th.
I bought his Wolfdog book on Amazon and touted it to my friends but did not offer to lend it — I wanted them to buy it!
What a lovely, warm, charismatic man Mike was. We loved him for many of the same reasons you fell in love with him, Heather: his quirky sense of humor (that first bouquet), his friendliness, his love of chocolate. Well, maybe not so much the chocolate! We recall the morning after we had consumed most of the chocolate cake Robert brought when we came to visit you. A piece was left — we believe you thought you hid it. I can still hear your voice the next morning, “Mike, where’s the cake?!”
We so enjoyed our visits to you in Falls Church, PA, and OC. All of the O’Neill clan are friends who feel like family. Our love and sympathy to you all.
Sending our condolences and love to Heather and family….rest in peace Mike!
Dear Heather and Family,
So sad and shocked about the news. My thoughts are with you. A ‚veteran‘ of international pharmaceutical trade association work I have fond memories of many hours spent with Mike at meetings and dinners in many cities in Europe and the U.S., in particular, the good old times at PhRMA‘s international annual meetings where the organizers still understood the importance of building in time for bonding. He was a true team player, a good friend, highly competent and hard working, and above all, he always inspired me with his love of the family. He will be missed!
Thomas Cueni
Dear Heather & Family: I am deeply saddened to hear of Mike’s passing. Having regularly met him during his professional life I will always remember Mike as a nice, skilled and very generous man. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
François Bouvy, Brussels
I know Mike through the most lovable stories shared with me from his sister, Lyssa, who cherished him and spoke always of his loyalty, charm, and kindness.
I pray your faith, memories, and loving family and friends be your strength as
Your heart heals.
Thinking of you fondly, Love Jude
Dear Heather & Family: so very sad to learn of Mike’s passing. We remember all the special moments as parents with you & Mike at GA. May his beautiful soul be at peace and may all your memories help heal your hearts. Karen & Bob Fusaro and Family.
Dear Heather,
Sending our heartfelt condolences to you and your family,
We were so saddened to hear of Mike’s passing, We remember him as your vibrant, interesting, and fun-loving husband. We still have fond memories of our evening dining together at the Spring Mill Cafe and dancing with the chef! We hope that your many memories of Mike as wonderful husband and father will help you through your grief. He will be missed by many.
Dear Heather and Family. Brown “Commodore” and Judy “First Mate” send their heart felt condolences for the passing of Mike. He was a man who left his imprint on everyones heart! I am so thankful for our wonderful Ocean City conversations taking place on each of our shady and cool porches. Just like those memories, he will be remembered like the sea breezes that always bring a smile to our face!
Shocked to hear of Mike’s passing. Just a very nice guy. Met him playing pick-up lunch time basketball at UC. Saw him at a UC game this past winter and talked to him for awhile. Enjoyed playing both with and against him. So sorry to hear the news. My condolences to Heather and the family. God bless.
Dear Heather and family,
All the wonderful comments about Mike are so true and appropriate. I would only add Mike’s joie de vivre and kind humor which I witnessed so often in meetings with colleagues and even government officials! As a fellow EWOC, I saw how effective Mike’s approach to policy and business issues could be. He was always the ‘good American’ representing not only his company but all of ours and his country as well. Mike was a leader and shining example for many of us in PhRMA and EFPIA meetings worldwide. He lives in our fond memories. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
Brian Healy
We will leave a picture of MAO and his school mates in a certain familiar place in Innsbruck next week..future travelers will have to find it!
Bless this good man and his family..
I had the pleasure of knowing Mike for well over 20 years, having played basketball with him at Ursinus. As others have mentioned, Mike was one of the friendliest guys that I have known. Anytime someone new would show up, Mike was always the first to great them and invite them to join the game.
He was the prototype power forward, and even gave himself the nickname, “bruise brother “. On offense, when he was open, you knew he would sink that 8 foot set shot.
Having played with most of the O’Neill clan, I can only imagine how intense the games were on the family driveway.
Both of our careers took us to the far ends of the world and we would often talk of the places we’d traveled to and how we were always trying rush home to be with our families.
The games just won’t be the same without him.
Rest In Peace Mike.
Mao,
Thanks for your smile and laughter, the memories you helped create and being part of our lives.
Heather, Ian, Lisle, Ross and Brynn:
We were devastated to hear of Mike’s passing. Memories have come flooding back, fun times at your home, Little Italy restaurants, Walnut Street Theater, the Outer Banks, basketball camps at Villanova, soccer camps at Ursinus.
Mike leaves a big hole in the world…
We miss you all, and are praying for your comfort through the next few weeks and months.
Love Always, Pat, Tony, Zak & Lauren, Gwyn Lando
Dear Heather and family
On the behalf of all Mike ‘s former italian Wyeth colleagues and friends we would like to express our deepest sympathy for all of you .
We have had so many good times together with you and Mike .
Mike was a true gentleman caring for others and will be missed by all of us .
Our prayers go with him
Domenico Larcinese
Mathieu Simon
My heartfelt condolences to Heather and family. Wishing you strength the coming days. Fondly, your tennis friend Antonie.
Dear Heather,
My deepest sympathy on the passing, way too soon, of our wonderful colleague and friend Mike. I will always remember the warm smile and humble sense of humor of my fellow EWOC and Wyeth ‘big brother”.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your beautiful family at this difficult time. Just remember how loved you all were.
Jackie
Although the length and breadth of my friendship with Mike was not very long, it was more impactful than some of my longer term relationships. And while I feel grateful to have been afforded the opportunity to know such an innately kind and intelligent man; warring with that is the grief that I feel because of the brevity of that connection. Mike will remain in my mind’s eye tromping across the field (Eagle’s hat perched upon his head) with Dexter and Perry and Charlie racing ahead to the path near his home.
To a beautiful loving family, Our thoughts and prayers are with you.love,Doris, Don & Diane Motter
Dear Heather and Family,
Please accept my sincerest condolences. I am fortunate as Mike has been an unforgettable friend and a mentor for many years. And my wife and I will never forget how nice and funny he was with our son, at that time 3 years old, during a dinner at our home in Brussels. A great and a good man whose smile and wisdom will be remembered for many more years to come.
Eduardo Pisani
Although the length and breadth of my friendship with Mike was not long, it was more impactful than some of my longer term relationships. I find myself feeling such gratitude to have been afforded the opportunity to know such an innately kind and intelligent man warring with feelings of grief due to the brevity of our connection. Mike will remain in my mind’s eye with the view of him (Eagle’s hat perched upon his head) tromping through the field with Dexter and Perry running ahead and Charlie close behind, walking toward the path near his home.
I met Mike in the late 1980s when the heads of international at America’s pharma companies gave a number of us the simple marching order of “fix it” – the European Community (EC) was becoming the European Union (EU) and draft laws were spewing forth from Brussels. The fix it group got the unofficial name of EWOCS (European Watchers Official Committee) and we all chose nicknames for each other based on Disney’s working elves from Snow White. Mikie got the name Chirpy – and those of you who know him understand why. His presence even made the one we named Grumpy, less so. We were in Europe lobbying every month for years, and no matter where we were, Chirpy always flew out on Friday to be with his beloved Heather and the children – and then he flew back after the weekend to continue with us. His book Wolfdog rests on my bed stand and his big smile chubby child photo on the book’s cover draws a grin each evening as I turn off the light.
I only knew mike for a short time but in that time i could see he was an easy going laid back type of guy. The one thing that amazed me about him though all of this, He never once said Why Me. Talk about strength,courage and wisdom he was all of them. Rolled into one! He will be missed! Much love. Paul
So sorry to hear of Mike’s passing, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Heather and family,
Our deepest condolences to you. Sending you peace and blessings.
Sally Jo and Bruce and family
Mike was a favorite babysitter of the 5 Reimann kids as his mom and mine were best friends. His smile and attitude was infectious and I will remember him forever . Rest In Peace with father hesburg and your mom and brother Bobby .
He was a grate host father!! Funny kind and I’ll always remember him!!! He have such a great family! I’m glad to meet you!!
For the better part of the last 10 years I had the pleasure of getting to know Mike and talking with him on Monday, Wednesday and Friday’s at Ursinus College for noon time hoops. He and I would often arrive early and “clank” warm up jump shots and talk about our families and Ocean City, NJ. He always asked about my children and family and what they were up to. On the hoops courts for years I only knew him as “Iron Mike” who set a mean pick and loved the mid-range jumper. What I learned over those 10 years was what a caring and loving gentleman I had the privilege to be with. I did not know him as long as many others on this post but I am glad to have spent time with him and to be able to call him a friend. I will miss you Mike — noon time hoops will not be the same for all of us.
A stellar human being if there ever was one. Rest assured I’ll make that trek from Boston to Newport Oregon too! I remember being in the doghouse with Paula not even 2 he after we married. NCAA semis(Georgetown-Kentucky). Priorities?
Heart felt sympathies to you Heather, and the entire O’Neill/Munro clan
.
Andy
Always gracious and with a welcoming smile that will be sorely missed. I never remember him being down. Loved the man.
I knew Mike for the better part of my working life. He was the salt of the earth – one of the nicest and most genuine people I’ve ever known. Positive, optimistic, smiling, always in a good mood and always eager to help in any way he could (in both business and personal matters). I am sorry to see him go but his basic “humanness” will continue to touch me for the rest of my life as he was the kind of person I continue to strive to be. God bless you Mike
“Mao” was the unquestioned leader of our Innsbruck Group in 1970-71, in what was probably the greatest year of our lives for many. I will do my best to honor his never-ending zest for life and to experience new things. He was at home wherever he found himself, and that is a special quality. Prosit Mao!
Did you mention…one of the nicest guys on this planet!
I have known Mike since 1996 when he came to visit me in the Belgian affiliate of Wyeth shortly after the merger between Wyeth and Cyanamid. Our paths have continued to cross each other ever since, especially after I arrived in Radnor in 1997 and we had offices on the same floor in the 150 building.
We continued to have offices close to each other in Radnor and in Collegeville all the way to 2010, when both of us retired from Wyeth. This meant that I saw Mike very often. We also travelled a lot together around Europe and attended many of the same international Wyeth meetings.
I grew very fond of Mike and we became good friends. I will always cherish his enormous smile, his fabulous travel stories, his encyclopedic knowledge of college football, his contagious optimism. He loved to hear about my travel stories and I about his. He was always full of great suggestions to go certain places, especially when it came to hiking in the US national parks, or the Milford track in New Zealand or the Inca Trail in Peru. He was a citizen of the world with an optimistic belief in mankind.
We also became friends outside of Wyeth and had a number of dinners at each other’s home together with mutual friends. Those evenings were always full of fun and laughter. Mike always took a genuine interest in the people that he met, not just professionally but also personally.
He was also a very proud family man and told me all about his adventures with Heather and the lives of his four growing children. After our retirement we continued to meet at Wyeth Retiree luncheons where we compared notes on the grandchildren as well as on our ongoing travel schedules and kept each other up-to-date on information about our mutual friends in the global Wyeth family.
I will miss Mike a lot and send my best wishes of strength and love to Heather and the extended O’Neill family.
Fondly
Luc Jacobs
Dear Heather and family,
My deepest condolences to you Heather and family. Mike was surely one of a kind and will be sorely missed. May your Memories be your blessings and may his memory be eternal!
Sincerely,
Kathryn
Mike was just such a formidable friend, working colleague, great team player and leader. We will miss him so much. Thank you for the great time we spent together, rest in peace Mike.
Jorge Wernli
So sad to hear of the passing of my dear friend Mike, he was kind and supportive while we both attended Georgetown University and the best house mate I could have asked for. My wife Joan and I send a gran abrazo to Heather and their family, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Pensándote mucho gran amigo y QEPD (que en paz descanses), te queremos mucho.
Our deepest sympathy .We feel so blessed to have known Mike and his beautiful family. Wishing you peace and comfort.
John and Maureen Wylie
Farewell Mike O’Neill. A man of dignity and grace, a family of love and laughter; a life well lived but cut too short. When you can’t see the way forward, look back and your love for Mike and his for you will show you the way