Leo Edward O'Neil

Leo O'Neil was born on January 31, 1928, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He attended both Blessed Sacrament School and Sacred Heart High School in that town.[1] In 1945 he entered Maryknoll Junior Seminary in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.[1] He studied at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire, for a year before attending the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec from 1950 to 1955.[1]

O'Neil was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Springfield by Bishop Christopher Weldon on June 4, 1955.[2] He then served as parochial vicar in several parishes in the diocese and was named pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish at Haydenville, Massachusetts, in 1976.[1]

On June 30, 1980, O'Neil was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Springfield and Titular Bishop of Bencenna by Pope John Paul II.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on August 22 , 1980, from Bishop Joseph Maguire, with Bishops Tomás Roberto Manning and Timothy Harrington serving as co-consecrators.[2]

John Paul II named O'Neil as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Manchester on October 17, 1989. When Bishop Odore Gendron retired, O'Neil automatically succeeded him on June 12, 1990.[2] He was installed at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Manchester on November 30, 1990.[3]

During his tenure, O'Neil worked to foster a common vision among New Hampshire Catholics with a program entitled "Renewing the Covenant."[3] He also won the affection of people with his inspirational homilies and flair for poetry. On November 30, 1993, O'Neil underwent surgery for multiple myeloma.[3] He continued to battle with cancer and serve as bishop for four more years, until his death at age 69 on November 30, 1997 — the seventh anniversary of his installation.[3]