John Joseph O'Neill

April 20, 1928 – Oct. 7, 2020

Jack passed away peacefully at the age of 92, after a long illness, in the comfort and familiarity of his own bedroom, surrounded by compassionate caregivers and enveloped by the affection and admiration of the large family that he headed. And just as surely as his seven sons, their wives, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren are a wonderful legacy of his commitment to family, so too will his entrepreneurial successes and philanthropic endeavours endure as a reminder of his remarkable character. Predeceased eight years ago by his wife of 63 years, Patricia, Jack kept family at the centre of his thoughts and actions, welcoming new spouses and babies (his “little bumphies”) into the family, even as he bade farewell to son Stephen, who passed away in 2018. His father, Frank, died in 1935 when Jack was just seven, and his mother, Loretto, passed away in 1952. Jack’s only sibling, his older brother Emmett, died in 1994.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Jack graduated from St. Paul’s high school and went to work with Canadian National Railways as a clerk, eventually rising to the position of general manager of the company’s Prince Edward Hotel in Brandon, Manitoba. His career path led him to industrial catering, which entailed the housing and feeding of remote-site construction crews. In 1959, he moved his young family to Vancouver, where he established National Caterers Ltd. and O’Neill Railway Catering Ltd. These successes led to his founding of Coast Hotels Ltd., which continues to thrive to this day under new owners. The businesses also presented his sons and many nephews, too, with attractive opportunities for summer employment. While other sons went into journalism, law, engineering and commercial real estate, two sons followed him into the catering and hotel business.

The family that he and Pat built planted permanent roots in the early 1960s in a large, historic home in West Vancouver—a home that became the centre of family life as the site of several wedding receptions, many graduation parties, and innumerable picnics, barbecues, and touch-football games. And rarely did Jack miss attending a Vancouver College high-school gridiron contest played by one of his sons.

Along with Pat, Jack was a supporter of philanthropic causes such as St. Paul’s Hospital, Lion’s Gate Hospital, and several other health-care and Catholic-church charities. Despite the demands of work and family, Jack found time for pursuits such as playing cribbage with his Gyro Club buddies, golfing, hunting, and fishing. But he seemed most content to relax with Pat, whether watching TV from his easy chair in the den, lounging poolside in Palm Desert or enjoying the view of Green Lake from their Whistler cabin.

Jack is survived by sons and daughters-in-law: Robert (Beverly), Terence (Mary), Kevin (Marie), Lawrence (Maureen), Douglas (Wendy), and John (Leah); by Stephen’s widow Susan; 19 grandchildren (and their spouses and significant others); and 13 great-grandchildren. The family is most grateful for the very high quality of care Jack received in recent months, not only from health-care professionals but also (and most especially) from his long-time home-support workers, Cecilia and Helen Mijaries, of whom Jack was most appreciative. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, funeral services will be a family-only affair.

“They lived and laughed and loved and left.”