C. Roderick O'Neil ’53

Rory died July 28, 2012, of complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) at Greenwich (Conn.) Hospital.

At Princeton Rory roomed with Cap and Gown clubmates Bruce Arnold, Jack McGovern, Peter Ross, and Buzz Taylor. He belonged to the Chicago Club and majored in English.

After graduation, he joined Northern Trust in Chicago and received an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago. Moving to New York, he headed the trust department at Manufacturers Hanover Trust, then became chief financial officer at The Travelers Companies. He later established his own consulting firm, O’Neil Associates.

His philanthropic activities are too numerous to mention, but in Hartford his most lasting achievement was founding Riverfront Recapture, a nonprofit agency that restored the Connecticut Riverfront to a series of parks, boat landings, and performance spaces.

In addition to Nancy, his wife of 61 years, he is survived by his sons, Brian ’74, Timothy ’76, Kevin ’78, and John; daughters Sarah and Anne; two brothers, Terry and Tom; and 13 grandchildren. Rory’s strength and courage in his final illness were an inspiration to all whose lives he touched through a long career in business and public service.