Francis Charles O'Neil, Jr.

Francis was born on March 8, 1950 in Hyannis, Massachusetts to Dr. Francis and Marie (O’Hare) O’Neil of Hyannis Port. The oldest of six children, his childhood was filled with fishing, hunting and shell-fishing with his father and brothers, instilling a lifelong love of nature, especially the ocean. Francis spent summers sailing on Nantucket Sound with the Hyannis Port Yacht Club, competing locally and regionally with his brother Jeffrey in their Beetle Cat, “Sea Bee”, and with his other siblings in the family Wianno Senior, “Shamrock”.

The lure of adventure at sea and the excitement of ocean racing was Francis’s calling. After graduating from the Canterbury School in 1968, he joined the crew of the “Yankee Girl”, a 56’ Sparkman Stephens designed sloop. When not calling the sail changes and sets on ‘Yankee Girl,’ Francis captained the 56’ Sparkman and Stephens Yawl ‘Magic Carpet’. His career highlights included racing in the SORC, Newport Bermuda Races, New York Yacht Club Cruises, Newport Race Week and the 1972 Onion Patch Series. As crew of “Merry Thought”, a 50’ Frers, Francis joined a team to compete in the Sardinia Cup in Sardinia, Italy. His prowess -- at the helm and on the sheets -- along with his sense of humor made Francis a valued teammate. Over the course of his career, Francis sailed the east coast, from Newfoundland to the Bahamas, through the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. He delivered yachts through the Panama Canal and up the west coast to San Francisco Bay. He could navigate by sextant and compass long before our current GPS.

When on dry land, Francis loved to garden, and his harvest -- flowers and vegetables--was always shared with family and friends. In colder months, he turned his attention to his craftsmanship. Francis was a skilled woodworker, often restoring beauty to old or discarded wood. From carved birds, to expertly hewn plaques and oars, Francis brought new life and a fresh coat of varnish to his creations. Over the years his oars became highly sought after and created many a bidding war at the Joe Cronin Memorial Fishing Tournament benefiting the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

In his later years, Francis settled into a residency at the Bursley Manor in West Barnstable, MA with his long-time partner, Sheila Bournival. Francis tended the gardens, cooked breakfast for guests, provided local knowledge, and, like any good retired sea captain, shared his tales of the open ocean. After guests departed for the season, Francis and Shelia enjoyed meandering road trips through New Hampshire, Vermont, and upstate New York. In the winter, they headed south to Florida, taking time for side adventures along the way.

Francis had a wonderful sense of humor, an incredible sharp wit, and a penchant for the kind of good mischief that was impossible to resist. He will be remembered for his patience teaching his many nieces and nephews, as well as the many other young people he helped mentor over the years. He took the time to teach them all the right way to tie a bowline, varnish the spars, bait a hook, open oysters, make a monkey fist, and so, so much more.

Francis is survived by his long-time companion Sheila Bournival, her daughter Laura O’Neill (Hugh) and their children; his mother Marie (O’Hare) O’Neil of Centerville, MA; brother Stephen O’Neil (Louise) of Hyannis, MA; sisters Margaret O’Neil Holden (Rick) of Duxbury, MA, Cheryl Weber (Hans-Peter) of Boston, MA and Terry Jaxtimer (E.J.) of Osterville, MA; nieces and nephews Richmond Holden (Kathryn), Carly Holden (Randall Carter), Harry Holden, Jeffrey O’Neil (Jillian), Bonnie O’Neil, Shannon Weber, Christopher Weber, Jonathan (Elizabeth) Jaxtimer, Jamie Jaxtimer, Sam Jaxtimer, and grand-nephew Ry Holden.

Francis is predeceased by his father, Dr. Francis C. O’Neil and his brother, Jeffrey O’Neil.

A celebration of Francis’s life will be held at St. Francis Xavier Parish, 347 South Street Hyannis, MA on Tuesday, March 10 at 10:00 AM.

Funeral Home: Doane, Beal & Ames, https://www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/hyannis-ma/doane-beal-ames/7208

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sail Cape Cod, P.O. Box 1954, Hyannis, MA 02601