Robert O’Neill

Robert (Bob) Keating O’Neill, 80, went to be with the Lord on August 11, 2025, in Gilbert, Arizona. Robert was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, a loving father and grandfather, and a devoted husband of 55 years to his wife, Helen.

Bob was born in 1945 in Lowell, Massachusetts to Charles and Veronica (Leahy) O’Neill and attended St. Patrick’s Elementary School and Keith Academy in Lowell.

A veteran of the U.S Military, he served in the Army National Guard of Arizona and the U.S. Army Reserves from 1968 until 1971 when he was honorably discharged.

Educated with a BA in History from Merrimack College (1966), an MA in European History from the University of Arizona (1968), a PHD in Early Modern European History (1975), and an MA in Library Science (1976) from the University of Chicago, Bob was a noted historian and author.

In his professional career, he served as Director of the Cunningham Memorial Special Collections Library at Indiana State University (1976-1981), Director of the Indiana Historical Society Library (1981-1987) and was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Madame C.J. Walker Urban Life Center. From 1987 to 2013, Bob served as the Director of John J. Burns Library at Boston College where he led the effort to grow the college’s literary and culturally important collections, including those of W.B. Yeats, Samuel Beckett, Graham Greene, Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill and Jane Jacobs. In 1991, Bob was honored by the American and Irish governments with a citation from the FBI Director for his key role in recovering priceless artifacts stolen by an antiquities ring, allowing them to be returned to Ireland.

After his retirement with Helen to Arizona in 2013, Bob, a man of strong faith, was an active member of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Parish in Gilbert where he attended daily Mass, joined the Knights of Columbus, hosted a weekly rosary group in his home, and gave talks on historical figures for the parish’s Saturday Speaker Series. For leisure, Bob liked to play golf with his friends. Professionally active, he also served on the Board of the Irish McClelland Library in Phoenix.

Bob is survived by his wife Helen (Parke) O’Neill, six children, Kathleen Burette, Kevin, Kerry Southworth, Daniel, MaryAnn, Timothy, six grandchildren, Sebastian, Dylan, Declan, Kennedy, Evelyn, and Margaret, brothers Ted and Patrick, and sisters, Michaelene McCann, and Elena Lovett. He is pre-deceased by his parents and sisters, Suellen, and Maura Walsh.