Name:
John David O’Neill 
Location served:
Chatham  
Years in Practice:
1946 to 2000
Area of Specialization:
Obstetrical Gynecology  

Biography:

Dr. John David O’Neill was born on a farm near Rutherford, Ontario on the 4th of November, 1924.  Dr. O’Neil was the 4th of 5 children born to John Fleming O’Neill and the former Annie Johanna Wallen. On his parents marriage record, his father’s occupation was listed as ‘farmer’ and his mother’s occupation was listed as ‘teacher’.  Dr. O’Neill was raised in Duart, Ontario and his siblings were: Hazel Eileen O’Neill, Doris Winnifred O’Neil and Mildred Grace O’Neil (who died of leukaemia at the age of 2 years and 11 months) and Helen O’Neill.  His father died in Duart on the 26th of September, 1934 when Dr. O’Neill was 9 years old.  He was buried at the Oil Springs Cemetery in Oil Springs, Ontario.  On the death record, his father’s occupation was listed as a ‘merchant’.

Dr. O’Neill was educated at the Duart Public School and Ridgetown High School. He attended the University of Western Ontario and graduated in 1946. While in school, Dr. O’Neill was an accomplished athlete. He pursued tennis, volleyball, basketball and shot put.

Dr. O’Neill worked for two years in Hamilton, before specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. During his studies he did locums in many Southern Ontario communities and eventually settled in Chatham.  Dr. O’Neill served as Chief of the departments of Obstetrical Gynecology at St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Public General Hospital. In 1965, he stepped down as the head of the departments, but continued to work in his field. In 1967 he was Chief of Staff at St Joseph’s Hospital.

Dr. O’Neill married Jessie Peterson Mair.  Mrs. O’Neill was the 3rd of 4 children born to James Bertram Mair and the former Mae Payne Sinclair.  Her father was a labourer and in 1931, the family resided at 1172 York Street in London, Ontario.  Mrs. O’Neill’s siblings were; Flora Sinclair Mair, Francis James Mair and Clara Louise Mair.  Mrs. O’Neill was a registered nurse and graduated with the 1947 class of nurses from Victoria Hospital.  She helped her husband establish the first Ob/Gyn medical practice in Chatham. Mrs. O’Neill was active in a volunteer capacity in the Chatham-Kent community.

Dr. and Mrs. O’Neill were the parents of 4 daughters: Jane, Patricia, Marianne and Barbara.  In 1974, the O’Neill family resided at 42 Robertson Avenue in Chatham.

Dr. O’Neill belonged to Park Street United Church in Chatham and he enjoyed playing golf, music and bridge in his spare time.

Dr. O’Neill died at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance on the 2nd of June, 2000.  He was buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.  Mrs. O’Neill died in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia on the 25th of June, 2023.

*Mrs. O’Neill’s father, James Bertram Mair served with the Canadian Armed Services during WWI.