The death of Patrick O'Neill

[Moira Day]

What terribly sad news. I think those of us who remember the moving eulogy he
gave to Geraldine Anthony at last year's banquet were reminded even then of all
Patrick's fine qualities not just as a scholar but as a human being, and were
glad that we still had him at least in our midst. It seems unbearable to think
that this year someone will be giving his eulogy instead.

A light has gone out.  He will be much missed.

Moira



Quoting Denis Salter <denis.salter at MCGILL.CA>:

> Dear Colleagues,
>
>
>
> I am writing with the sad news that Patrick O'Neill died on Thursday while at
> a conference in Galway. He was an exemplary, rigorous scholar, and generous
> friend to many, who did so much painstaking and dedicated work to establish
> the foundations and the development of Canadian theatre history over a career
> spanning nearly four decades. He moved from the University of Saskatchewan in
> 1975 to become a Professor of Speech and Drama at Mount Saint Vincent
> University in Halifax.  He recently served as Director of Research and
> International Liaison Officer for the Mount, and had returned last autumn to
> full-time teaching and research. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Boston during
> 2004-I remember him telling me vivid stories about the wonderful research
> libraries there and the many happy hours he spent in the Boston Athenaeum-and
> he was engaged in several large projects, including writing a comprehensive
> history of the Halifax stage. Embodying the life of the scholar as gentleman,
> he had a delightful, dry sense of humour, never taking himself or his work
> too seriously; he took enormous pleasure in sharing his research findings and
> helped many scholars at various stages of their careers.  He regularly
> delivered papers to the annual ACTR conference; ACTR was a kind of second
> family to him. He was a man who loved to learn, not just in order to publish,
> but because he was insatiably curious.   Patrick is mourned by his wife,
> Dianne; his sons, St. John (Lesley) of Hamilton, and Brendan of Victoria; and
> his sister, Margaret (James Lynn) of Ottawa and Florida. He will be fondly
> remembered by extended family, friends, colleagues, and the many students
> whom he taught and inspired. A memorial service will be held tomorrow in St.
> Matthias Church, Chebucto Road, in Halifax, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers,
> donations in his memory may be made to the MSVU Scholarship Endowment Fund.
>
>
>
> --Denis Salter
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________________
> "When a people forget a language, they forfeit the heart of who they
> are and the ability to comprehend the stories that are central to their
> cultural, spiritual and emotional health."--Keren Rice.
> ____________________________________________________________________
> "That's what hybrids were invented for: survival in changing
> ecologies."--Lisa Doolittle
> _______________________________________________________________________
> "To celebrate this award, and the work it recognizes of those around the
> world, let me recall the words of Gandhi: 'My life is my message.' Also,
> plant a tree."  Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Prize for Peace.
>
> __________________________________________________
> Denis Salter
> Professor of Theatre
> McGill University
> 853 Sherbrooke St. West
> Montréal, QC
> H3A 2T6
> Tel (514) 398 6550
> Regular Fax (514) 398 8146
> Computer Fax (309) 294 0444
> denis.salter at mcgill.ca
> d.salter at videotron.ca
> __________________