08/13/2025
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/bostonglobe/name/robert-o-neill-obituary?id=59185148
ROBERT O'NEILL
Obituary
O'NEILL, Robert Keating Passed away on August 11, 2025, in Gilbert, Arizona, at the age of 80. Robert O'Neill was born in Lowell, MA, to Charles and Veronica (Leahey) O'Neill. He attended St. Patrick's Elementary School and Keith Academy in Lowell. He attended Merrimack College and received a BA in History in 1966. He received an MA in European History from the University of Arizona in 1968. He served in the Army National Guard of Arizona and U.S. Army Reserves from 1968 until 1971, when he was honorably discharged as a Specialist Four. He attended the University of Chicago between 1971 and 1976, receiving his PhD in Early Modern European History (1975) and MA in Library Science (1976). He worked as Director of the Cunningham Memorial Special Collections Library at Indiana State University from 1976 to 1981. He was the Director of the Indiana Historical Society Library in Indianapolis from 1981 to 1987; he also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Madame C.J. Walker Urban Life Center.
He was Director of the John J. Burns Library at Boston College from 1987 to 2013, where he led efforts to grow Boston College's special collections, through acquiring collections of literary and cultural importance, notably, W.B. Yeats, Samuel Beckett, Graham Greene, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill and Jane Jacobs. He published several books and numerous articles, mainly in the field of library science. In 1991, he was honored by the American and Irish governments for playing a key role in an international sting operation that broke up a stolen antiquities ring. The operation led to the successful recovery of priceless artifacts that were returned to its rightful place: Ireland. He received a framed citation from FBI Director Sessions for his role in the operation, which was presented to him at Boston College by the leadership of the Boston FBI Office.
He leaves behind his wife, Helen; and six children: Kathleen, Kevin, Kerry, Daniel, Mary Ann and Timothy. He leaves behind six grandchildren: Sebastian, Dylan, Declan, Kennedy, Evelyn and Margaret. He was predeceased by his sisters, Suellen and Maura. He leaves behind his brothers, Ted and Pat; and sisters, Michaelene and Elena. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Manuscript Society's Mass Research Grant: The Manuscript Society, P.O. Box 25, Grand Isle, VT 05458. A Funeral Mass will be held on August 22, 2025, at 10:30 AM, at Saint Mary Magdalene Roman Catholic Church, 2654 E. Williams Field Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85295.ROBERT
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