Brian J. O'Neill

Brian J. O’Neill, 78 years young, sadly passed away on Thursday, August 24, 2023 after a battle with Cancer.

Brian was born the second of four children (Thomas, Brian, Susan and Kathleen) to Patrick and Gertude O’Neill in Brooklyn, NY on March, 29, 1945. After losing his father at a young age, Brian enlisted in the Army at 17 and earned his GED and fought bravely in Vietnam before returning stateside.

After returning from the service Brian met his future wife and mother of his children, Kathleen O’Neill. He joined the NYPD and began a storied career in law enforcement. Kathy and Brian married, March 25 of 1972 and moved from Brooklyn out to Long Island in August of 1974 where their two sons Michael and Travis were born. Impressively, Brian earned his Bachelors of Science from NY Institute of Technology while working full time for the police department. After retiring as a Sergeant from the job he loved on the police force Brian held several other jobs including his favorite as a Starter on a golf course, intertwining his infectious personality with the game he loved to play. There, he was able to share his smile and gregarious laugh with many who were fortunate enough to encounter him.

Brian is known to all as a loving man, never afraid to show care for others especially friends or family in need. He was always interested in learning and new things, whether he was riding his motorcycle with his son sitting on the tank, or fishing from the boat his sister Susan was kind enough to keep at her house he was continuously attempting something new.

Brian was always a big man when he entered a room, far exceeding his personal size, his persona commanded recognition with a quick smile by any who had met him before. As testament to the type of man he was, either his fearlessness or kind heart made him an instant love of any dog he ever met, especially the big, loud, angry ones. It was just Brian’s nature to wade in, right past all the dog’s snarling intimidating bluster and he’d put a hand out, pet them and become best friends. He was this same person to so many people in need during the course of his life and anyone who knew him for a length of time can provide testament to such.

Brian was predeceased by his Father Patrick O’Neill and Mother Gertrude O’Neill. He is survived by his brother Thomas, sisters Susan and Kathleen, spouse Kathy, sons Michael and his wife Cara and Travis and his wife Melissa, grandchildren Macaylyn, Madylyn, Olivia, Taylor, Isabella, Amelia, Annabelle, Jackson, and Marisol and numerous nieces and nephews who all knew him as far more than just an Uncle.

Services will be held as follows:
Wake on Sunday 27 August at Moloney’s in Hauppauge, NY from 1400-1900.
Funeral on Monday 28 August at Saint Thomas More in Hauppauge, NY at 0945 followed by burial at St Charles Cemetery.