James F. O'Neil

James Francis O'Neil, 82, of Center Sandwich, New Hampshire died Wednesday, September 1, 2010. Jim was born on Mother's Day, May 13, 1928, in Boston, Massachusetts to the late John H. and Frances C. (Flaherty) O'Neil.  He graduated from the Roxbury Latin School, class of 1947, and from Harvard University in 1951 and Harvard Business School in 1955.  He was in the Field Artillery of the United States Army and was a Korean War Veteran and the recipient of the Bronze Star. Jim married the late Letitia Ann O'Connor in 1953.  They lived throughout the Northeast and in Cincinnati, Ohio during his 35 year sales career with The Procter and Gamble Company, where he started out going door to door to grocery stores in New England.  In 1988 Tish and Jim retired full-time to Center Sandwich, where they were both active in The Sandwich Historical Society and the Sandwich Fair Association.  Jim had spent every summer of his life in Sandwich, and instilled his love of the town and its people and history in his children and his grandchildren.  He spent many hours on Squam Lake and in the White Mountains, including being caught in the weather observatory on the top of Mt. Washington during the "Storm of the Century" in March, 1993.  Jim loved working in the woods and in his many gardens at Lilac Farm, his property in Center Sandwich, and spending time with his many lifelong friends there. Jim was active in the United Way, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and the Mariemont School Board.  He was also very involved in both the Roxbury Latin School and Harvard University Alumni Associations, along with many of his classmates and football teammates.   He is survived by his children, Ellen (Kevin) Karnan of Center Sandwich, John H. (Cheryl) of Stuart's Draft, Virginia, Letitia (Sean) Smith of Summerville, South Carolina, James F., Jr. (Sheri) of Moultonborough, and Elizabeth F. of Portland, Maine; his grandchildren Kyle (Katie) and Kelley Karnan, Bradley and Cullen O'Neil, Adam, Benjamin, and Jacob Smith, Sheri (Curtis) Coleman, and Lilly and Connor O'Neil; and one great grandchild, Karigan Letitia Karnan; and his special friend, Patricia Cook of Tamworth, New Hampshire.   Memorials:In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in his memory to Camp Hale, Center Sandwich, at United South End Settlements, Harriet Tubman House, Central Office, 566 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118; or the Sandwich Historical Society for the Quimby Barn Transportation Museum, P.O. Box 244, Center Sandwich, NH 03227. Visitation:Visiting hours will be Sunday, September 5th, 1-4 pm at Mayhew Funeral Home, Routes #3 and #104, Meredith. Service:A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 6th, at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, Meredith.   There will be a reception at his daughter Ellen's home on Elm Hill Road following the burial.Cemetery:Burial will be immediately following at Elm Hill Cemetery, Center Sandwich.