Francis T. O'Neill Sr., real estate salesman and father of developer
His six sons worked at the family restaurants from the time they were old enough to carry a tray. "He taught us the meaning of hard work," Frank O'Neill Jr. said.
Francis Thomas O'Neill Sr., 90, of Wayne, a restaurateur and real estate salesman on the Main Line, and the father of developer J. Brian O'Neill, died Sunday, June 11, of heart failure at his home.
Mr. O'Neill had lived in Merion, Haverford, and Villanova before moving to Wayne.
Known as "Frank," Mr. O'Neill was born in Phoenixville. He attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School before enlisting in the Army during World War II. He served during the Allied occupation of Japan. He told family that he was greatly affected by what he saw in postwar Japan, especially the lines of starving people waiting for scraps of food that the American GIs had discarded.
Upon returning from the war in 1946, Mr. O'Neill opened a flower shop and a furniture store in Suburban Square in Ardmore.
He then acquired restaurants – the Tavern in Bala Cynwyd, the Lock, Stock & Barrel in Paoli, and the Inn of the Four Falls on the site of what is now the corporate center of the same name in Conshohocken. He sold the eateries and got into buying and selling residential real estate on the Main Line. He continued to dabble in real estate until his late 80s.
Mr. O'Neill was introduced to the Wolfington family by his friend Bob Gillin, and through that association met his future wife, Margaret Ann "Peggy" Wolfington, while the two were at the Whitebrier Hotel in Avalon, N.J. Years later, Mr. O'Neill managed the hotel and ran it with his brother-in-law Eustace Wolfington.
Mr. O'Neill employed mostly young people in the hotel and restaurants. For many, it was their first job.
"I have met many people over the years who worked for my dad when they were young, and all have said that he was a big influence on their lives." said son Frank Jr.
Mr. O'Neill came from a family of 10 children. His wife was one of nine, and together they had many nieces, nephews, and cousins. The couple's six sons worked at the family's restaurants from the time they were old enough to carry a tray. He encouraged them to become entrepreneurs and taught them sales, customer service, cost and crisis management, and how to get along with people. "He taught us the meaning of hard work," Frank Jr. said.
"Dad loved life and knew a thousand people," son Bill said.
Though lacking in formal education, Mr. O'Neill kept himself informed by reading numerous daily newspapers and long books, usually several at a time. He could talk intelligently about current affairs, business, politics, art, music, and theater.
A lifelong liberal Democrat, he admired Franklin D. Roosevelt for pulling the country out of the Great Depression and supported John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. The rest of his family was more conservative. "This created spirited debates within his family," wrote son Brian in a tribute.
In addition to his sons, Mr. O'Neill is survived by sons Joe, Mike, and Vince, and 16 grandchildren. His wife died in 2011.
A celebration of his life will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at the Overbrook Golf Club, 799 Godfrey Rd, Villanova. A Funeral Mass will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 16, at St. Katharine of Siena, 104 S. Aberdeen Ave., Wayne. Interment is private.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Ann's Catholic Church, 502 Main St., Phoenixville, Pa.19460.