Joseph F. O’Neil

Joseph F. O’Neil, a prominent Boston immigration attorney and a former professor at Boston College Law School died on April 4th. Mr. O’Neil was a resident of Hingham and Gray Gables, Massachusetts. Mr. O’Neil grew up in Dedham, the son of the late Edward O’Neil and the late Anna (Sullivan) O’Neil. A baseball and football star at Dedham High School, Mr. O’Neil known as “Mighty Joe” on the field went on to play baseball at the College of the Holy Cross. His years at Holy Cross were a source of great pride, and he often said that the “purple blood” remained in his veins well beyond his graduation in 1950. Mr. O’Neil received his Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law School in1953. He served in the U. S. Army from 1954-1956. Appreciative of the financial assistance he received from Boston College Law School, Mr. O’Neil took time away from his active immigration practice to work as an adjunctive Professor at Boston College Law School for over 18 years. In 1971, Mr. O’Neil started his own firm Joseph F. O’Neil, PC, which specialized in immigration and international business. He worked as an attorney in the field of immigration for over fifty years. “He was an example for other attorneys — always prepared and honest as a day is long,” according to Retired Immigration Judge Thomas Ragno. “What I loved about Joe was that we could have a cup of coffee after the case was over and share a few laughs. He was a great friend and I will miss him.” Mr. O’Neil was the former chairman of the Massachusetts Bar Associations’ Committee on Immigration Law and the former chairman of the New England Immigration Lawyers’ Association. Mr. O’Neil published widely on the topic of immigration law. In addition to his professional activities as a lawyer, Mr. O’Neil was a founder and director of Lincoln Trust Company for over twenty-five years, where his legal guidance lead the bank to a successful merger with the Quincy Savings Bank and he continued as a director. Mr. O’Neil is survived by his wife, Elinor (Swide) O’Neil, two daughters, Allison O’Neil and her husband Patrick Fischoeder of Boston and Jennifer O’Neil and her husband Eric Merithew of Dedham, two grandchildren, Ethan Merithew and Tillie Fischoeder, as well as sisters Barbara McKay of Dedham, Helen Carroll of Walpole, Mary Berlo of Melbourne, FL, and brother William O’Neil of Westwood. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St., HINGHAM, Thursday at 9 AM. Funeral Mass in Church of the Resurrection, Hingham at 10 AM. Visiting hours Wednesday 4-8 PM. Burial in MA National Cemetery, Bourne. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. O’Neil’s name can be made to College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, MA 01610 or the American Heart Association, 1 Union St. #301, Robinsville, NJ 08691.