Nelson Louis O'Neill

Born in 1947 to John William O'Neill and Louise Starr O'Neill, he graduated from St. Mark School and Mount Saint Joseph High School. He received his BS degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Maryland in College Park. While at University of Maryland, Nelson was a member of Kappa Alpha fraternity, becoming its chapter president during his senior year. He was a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Kalegathos Society, and the Golden Key Honor Society.

Nelson's work career spanned 31 years at Nevamar Corporation in Odenton, MD. Rising from a new hire after college graduation, he eventually became the Vice President of Manufacturing and Engineering. While working, he completed the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. After Nevamar was purchased by International Paper, Nelson rose to become Head of Engineering for the Decorative Products Division. He retired in 2001. While at Nevamar, he worked to get several patents which led to the company's success in solid surface manufacturing. Nelson's early years at Nevamar were filled with innovation and hard work, achieving mutual goals with like-minded colleagues, many of whom became good friends.

Nelson led a busy life, enjoying many activities with close friends and family. The list includes snow skiing, sailing, waterskiing, golf, fishing, crabbing, and most of all scuba diving. After retirement, he and his wife Louise traveled to many places in the U.S. and abroad in planes, trains, ships, and automobiles. Nelson loved watching his favorite sports teams - the Ravens, the Orioles and the University of MD football and basketball teams. Although, nothing gave him more pleasure than spending time with his family swimming, boating, fishing and crabbing. Having time with his grandchildren Aidan, Lyla and Quinn, teaching them to fish and crab, taking them out in the boat, swimming with them and going to their soccer games brought him great joy. His oldest grandson Aidan attending his alma mater, Mt. St Joseph, was a source of pride.

Nelson was predeceased by his parents, his brother Timothy O'Neill, and his childhood sweetheart and wife of 21 years, Karen Kelly O'Neill who passed away in 1991. He is survived by his wife Louise Davenport O'Neill, whom he married in 1993. He is also survived by his daughter Kelly O'Neill Ascherl(Christian Ascherl), his sons Conor Mark O'Neill and Samuel Lee Bennett, his grandchildren Aidan O'Neill Ascherl, Lyla Kelly Ascherl, and Quinn Greyson O'Neill, his siblings and their spouses Richard and Nichole O'Neill, Kathleen O'Neill, Patricia and Thomas Cahill and his nieces and nephews.

Services and Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Hospice of the Chesapeake (hospiceofthechesapeake.org) and Alzheimer's Association ( ALZ.org)