Fundraiser for Mike O'Neill's family

(Big) Mike O'Neill was unquestionably one of Ridgefield Park’s good men. Always laughing, always helping, and equally dedicated to his family and his community.

 

Tragically, Mike passed away just after midnight on February 10, 2022, after more than a month of fighting complications from Covid. He and Mary, his wife of 22 years, have been together since they met as teens at the St. Francis Youth group in Ridgefield Park. This unexpected loss comes as the O’Neill’s are right in the middle of raising three great kids, the youngest two currently down at our high school, and their eldest having just recently launched.

 

The O’Neill’s have embodied all that is good about Ridgefield Park. Hardworking, active in their community, generous with their time, and most of all, good people. He has been a loud, but gentle, giant coaching or cheering from the sidelines of every kid's sport played in Ridgefield Park for decades, most noticeable by his stature AND his commitment to wearing shorts even in subfreezing weather. As a coach, he treated every player as if they were his child. His teenage to adulthood sweetheart, Mary Appel O'Neill is a PreK teacher, who has always been involved in the PTAs, RP CoOp, cheerleading, and every other fundraiser in town. She most recently completed a tough three-year term as an RP Board of Education trustee, where she served with integrity and contributed much to the recent recovery of our school district. It does not escape me that during his last three years of life, she gave up countless hours aways from Mike and her family fighting for ours at board meetings.

 

Literally and figuratively, the O’Neill’s are every one of us, their kids are our kids, and their story (both good and bad) could be ours. Like most of us, the O'Neill's were rich only in love, family, and in friends, but they have now lost their head of household. Mary and her children need our community's generosity now and will need our help and support far beyond this fundraiser.

Please give as much as you can right now, and going forward, look out for his kids as they would (and have) for ours, and keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. https://vorheesingwersen.com/tribute/details/680/Michael-O-Neill-III/obituary.html#tribute-start

 

(Note: All monies raised will be deposited by GoFundMe directly into the O'Neil's family account)