Francis John O'Neill

Frank O'Neill died on June 1st at 2:12 am from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was a retired research scientist at the V.A. Hospital and associate professor at the University of Utah, working for 42 years. He had an unwavering commitment to cancer research and focused on the viruses, SV-40, BK and papilloma.

He was born in New York City on April 26, 1940, on the kitchen table, to his mother, Adelaide Menna O'Neill and his father John O'Neill. His parents were both first generation Americans born to immigrants from Ireland and Italy.

Frank was a workaholic who went into the lab every day of the week and on weekends and holidays. He had a prodigious legacy of scientific papers to his credit and was published internationally. He worked continuously to maintain research monies and was funded throughout the length of his career.

Frank loved his dog Roosevelt and his two charming granddaughters, Gabriela and Catalina.
He married Vera Manino in New York in 1963. From that union came his beloved daughter, Lisa Adelaide.

He married Janet Taylor O'Neill on November 20, 1977. They have been married for forty years. Their dear daughter, Margaret Elke was born in Freiburg, Germany.

Frank earned his bachelor's degree from Long Island University, his M.A. degree from the City University of New York and his Ph.D. from the University of Utah.

After being awarded an Eleanor Roosevelt fellowship by the American Cancer Society, Frank and Jan traveled to Germany in 1977 for a sabbatical, as an Alexander von Humboldt International Fellow. He studied and worked at the Universitat Freiburg with Dr. Harald Zur Hausen, who later became a Nobel Prize Laureate for his discovery of the relationship of the papilloma virus to cancer of the cervix.

As a quiet intellectual, Frank was hard to get to know. But once you knew him, all of that slipped away; he had a mischievous wit, a sly grin and a twinkle in his eye. He was a big softie inside and he loved his family deeply. He would be embarrassed to see all of these accolades in print.

He was an avid pool player and won many trophies with the Salt Lake Invitational Pool League and the South Valley Pool League sponsored by the Trade Winds and Cheers to You. He spent many hours over the years golfing with his Catholic golf buddies and got past the "yips" to develop a powerful swing.
Frank was the president of the Hibernian Society from 2003-2004.

As a young man, he played on the Long Island University Baseball team as the pitcher. He was an avid hiker and summited Lone Peak on multiple occasions. He swam laps for exercise and ran regularly. He was a downhill skier for many years.

In Frank's final years, before the Alzheimer's interfered, he organized a tribute to John F. Kennedy at the University of Utah Hinckley Institute of Politics, on the 50th Anniversary of President Kennedy's Assassination. Frank was a huge admirer of JFK; he read every JFK book and watched every documentary.

Frank loved justice. He donated to the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center and demonstrated against the Vietnam War, acting as the organizer for one of the marches. He stood vigil for William Andrew when the State of Utah unjustly executed him. 

A lifelong, proud liberal and Democrat, he would have vociferously objected to the clown with the pompadour hair-do.

Frank's belief in searching for truth in science, in politics and in relationships, guided his journey in life. He loved art, especially Van Gogh and Monet. Paris was his favorite city.

We will dearly miss you Frankie, Dad, Grandpa, brother, uncle, friend. You were an example to us to never give up…to persevere! We'll never be able to make ‘Frank's Famous Meatballs' as well as you did.
The family would like to thank all of the superb human beings at Silverado Aspen Park for their gentle and compassionate care of our Dad. We send our special gratitude and love to Dr. Stephen Fehlauer. We will never forget you for loving Frank.

Survived by his wife; his daughters; his granddaughters; his son-in-law Jose Escabi; his brother Bob O'Neill (Nancy); his sister Kelly O'Neill; his nephew Michael (Kim); his niece and nephew Shelley and Andrew Sippel; Taylor in- laws: Jan Taylor; Kathy and Rick Whyte; Claudia Sippel; Stephen and Debbie Taylor; nieces and nephews; his many friends; and his cousins in Ireland, Genevieve McHale and Barnie O'Neill.

Preceded in death by his father and mother; brother David O'Neill; in-laws, Weldon and Lou Jean Taylor; brother-in-law, Gary Taylor; sisters-in-law Sherri Taylor and Sue Taylor; Cousin Gonzi O'Neill, Kilkishen, County Clare, Ireland; friends: Bruce Evans, Ben Knowlton, Bob Goldberg, and very special friend, Susan Gall.

There will be an Irish Wake on Friday, June 10th between 7:00-9:00 pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 S 900 E. Please use the complimentary valet parking on the north side of Starks. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 11th at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1385 East Spring Lane. at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the ACLU of Utah or theAlzheimer's Association of Utah.

"Love you always Frankie Lane, Renee."