O'NEILL, JAMES "JIM" - It is with sadness that the family of James O'Neill announces his passing on March 10th, 2014 at age 90 after a brief illness. A life-long resident of Fredericton, Jim was born on August 5th, 1923, the only child of Hugh and Gertrude (Barry) O'Neill. He attended St Dunstan's School and graduated from Fredericton High School. Like his father who was a Deputy Chief, Jim worked 30 years for the Fredericton Fire Department. When Jim retired, also as a Deputy Chief, it was the first time in almost 80 years that a member of the O'Neill family was not on the Fredericton Fire Department as either a volunteer or permanent firefighter. Jim could easily relate the history of Fredericton between the late 1920's to the current day on a fire by fire basis. His recollections assisted the Fredericton Firefighters Association when they compiled a website detailing the history of the department. If you showed him a photo of a local fire, there was a very good chance he could tell you the date, address, and also who fought the fire and what fire apparatus was used. He was especially proud to have been on the crew that saved the old King Street fire station when the Zellers building that was next door was totally destroyed. He said that to lose a station house to fire would have been the ultimate indignity to befall a firefighter. He was also an invaluable resource on the history of Fredericton and shared his knowldege with many individuals and groups. In the past few years, Jim's local knowledge was used helping catalogue old photographs from various collections at the NB Archives. Many knew Jim as "The Circus Man", as his leisure time was spent with his family, and on his hobby of building miniature model circuses. This became very much a family effort, with his wife Gilberte sewing tents and sons providing assistance on setups. The "O'Neill Bros. Model Circus" was displayed several times at the Fredericton Exhibition and the former National Exhibition Centres (both Fredericton and Saint John) along with the New Brunswick Museum, Moncton Museum and Nova Scotia Museum. A music lover, Jim especially enjoyed opera and had an extensive collection of opera books, records and CDs. A typical day off would see Jim in his workshop working on a circus model with opera blaring out of an old stereo and a box of Ganong Chocolates at his side. He was also somewhat of an amateur astronomer. Jim was an honorary member of the Firefighters Union Local 1053, a member of the Circus Model Builders Association, Circus Historical Society, York-Sunbury Historical Society, as well as a member of St. Dunstan's Roman Catholic Church. Jim was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Gilberte (Dubé). He is survived by his two sons, Hugh (Cathy) of Moncton and their children Patrick (Amanda Vissers), Erin, and Daniel; and John (Carole) of Barrie, ON and their daughters Aislyn and Caitlin.
By request there will be no visitation. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 15th, 2014 at 2 pm from St. Dunstan's Roman Catholic Church. Fr. Bill Brennan will officiate. A reception will follow in the Monsignor Boyd Family Center. Interment will take place in the Hermitage Cemetery in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Online condolences can be made at www.mcadamsfh.com, (506) 458-9170.