JohnJ. O’Neill John O’Neill, a lifelong Garden City resident who had recently retired from Bank of America, passed away Sunday, September 5th at home with his family. He was 62 years old.

After a distinguished 39 year career in commercial banking, John retired in June as Executive Vice President and Regional President of Long Island for Bank of America, positions he had also previously held with Fleet Bank before their merger. He began his career in 1964 at Marine Midland Bank. He focused primarily on developing corporate loan relationships in the New York Metropolitan region and was also responsible for financing many important commercial projects that have contributed significantly to the economic vibrancy of Long island.

John was widely regarded as a leader of the Long Island business community. Over the years, John built a solid reputation for providing innovative financial solutions, keen analytical perceptions, and unwavering commitment to his clients. He had a unique ability to respond effectively to the needs of large, established companies, as well as to those of dynamic, entrepreneurial businesses. Under his leadership, Fleet Bank experienced an unprecedented period of growth and success on Long Island.

In addition to his professional success, John distinguished himself with his steadfast dedication and generous support for a wide variety of community organizations. Within the past year, John’s philanthropy was recognized by Friends of the Arts and Networking Magazine, which, respectively, presented him with their annual Troubadour and David awards. In his memory, the Board of Directors of Project GRAD Roosevelt has created an annual award to honor a Long Islander who demonstrates John’s outstanding service and commitment to philanthropy.

Other organizations recently honoring John for his work on their behalf have included the American Cancer Society, Parker Jewish Foundation, Association for the Help of Retarded Children, Nassau County Boy Scouts, and Long Island Cares. In addition, John served on many boards of directors, including the Long Island Association and Long Island Men’s Business Association.

John’s entire life was spent in and around Garden City. He grew up on Weyford Terrace and went to St. Joseph’s elementary school and Chaminade High School before leaving for Worcester, MA to attend the College of the Holy Cross. After graduating from college in 1963, he received his MBA from New York University. In 1968, he and his wife, Margie, moved to Fernwood Terrace in Stewart Manor as they began to build their own family, and from 1977 until his passing this week, he lived on Wickham Road.

John was always actively involved in the interests of his four children - from Garden City RAM football games, to numerous events at Chaminade, to all manner of extracurricular activities at Garden City High School. John was a member of the Garden City Golf Club, and he and Margie also enjoyed playing together at Cherry Valley Club. He relished the challenge of a game of chess or a set of tennis and had a passion for college sports - particularly the Crusaders of Holy Cross. An avid cartoon collector, he complied, “O’Neill’s Book of Cartoons”. The “Big O”, as he was affectionately nicknamed, especially loved spending time at his country home in Water Mill with his family.

John will be sorely missed by his family: his wife of 39 years, Margie; his children Timothy, Daniel and his fiance, Mitra, Jeanne and her husband, Christopher, and Jennifer and her husband, Jonathan; and his three grandchildren, Caroline, Amelia, and Emmett. John’s memory, laughter, and inspiration will be cherished by all who knew him.

The O’Neill family graciously requests that people who would like to remember John please contribute to the John J. O’Neill Scholarship, The College of the Holy Cross, Development Office, One College Street, Worcester, MA 01610.