Given by
Br. William Martin, FSC
Brother Cyril O’Neill was born in the Bronx, NY, of Irish immigrant parents only months before the Great Depression. After his father died in an industrial accident in 1932, his mother took the family to England, where relatives could be of assistance. Soon the parish of St. Cuthbert in Manchester became the center of family life, with the youngsters attending the parish school, and serving as altar boys in the Church.
According to the autobiography Brother Cyril wrote, the parish priest, noting his organization skills and attention to detail, gave him the task of instructing new members of the altar society. He found this first experience in teaching quite satisfying, and ultimately it led him to enroll in the Brothers’ Province of England Junior Novitiate as a high school sophomore. He entered the Novitiate in June 1945, and received the Brothers’ Robe in September 1945.
Brother Cyril was first assigned to teach at De La Salle School in Sheffield, England. After 13 years, he became the principal of De La Salle School in Liverpool, England, and remained there for 5 years. Another 13 year high school assignment led him to St. Aloysius School in London. He then became the principal of St. Illtyd’s School in Cardiff, Wales, for a 4 year term.
During these years, many members of Brother Cyril’s family immigrated to the United States. He petitioned to be assigned to the US, and was granted his request in 1986. He taught for two years at La Salle Institute in Troy, NY, and became a member of the legacy New York Province in 1987. In 1988, he transferred to Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ, where he remained until this past year, when illness caused him to enter De La Salle Hall, on the CBA campus.
Brother Cyril wrote extensively of the conditions and his experiences in England during World War II. His daily prayer asked God to continue to protect the United States from such adversity. May God protect and safeguard Brother Cyril in Heaven!
Please pray for the happy repose of the soul of
Br. Cyril O’Neill, FSC
Born Desmond Thomas O’Neill in New York City, NY, on January 18, 1929
Entered the District of England Juniorate on September 3, 1942, and Novitiate on June 20, 1945
Received the Religious Habit and Name, Brother Cyril, on September 7, 1945
Pronounced Perpetual Vows in London, England, in 1956
Br. Cyril died at De La Salle Hall, Lincroft, NJ, on May 16, 2013
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Viewing from 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 7:00 pm
Mass of Christian Burial at 7:00 pm
Christian Brothers Academy (Alumni Hall)
850 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft, NJ 07738-1608
Burial at St. Gabriel’s Cemetery, Marlboro, NJ
SUFFRAGES FOR OUR DECEASED BROTHER CYRIL
District: 100 masses
De La Salle Hall Community: 30 masses
Each community in the District: 1 mass
Brother Cyril died peacefully during the late afternoon at De La Salle Hall. May he rest in peace.
Assignments
1951-1964
teacher & dept. chair
Sheffield, ENGLAND
De La Salle Grammar School (Secondary)
1964-1969
principal and director
Liverpool, ENGLAND
De La Salle Grammar School (Secondary)
1969-1982
teacher and department chair
London, ENGLAND
St. Aloysius College (Secondary)
1982-1986
principal
Cardiff, WALES
St. Illtyd’s
1986-1988
teacher
Troy, NY
La Salle Institute
Jan. 15, 1987
Officially became member of the New York District
Troy, NY
1988-2012
teacher and office assistant
Lincroft, NJ
Christian Brothers Academy
2012-2013
residence
Lincroft, NJ
De La Salle Hall
Bro Cyril was headmaster at De La Salle in Liverpool when I was a pupil there in the 1960..my memories are of his kindness and understanding…..when I heard in 2003 that he was at CBA I wrote to him..it was only in early May this year he phoned me after I had been in hospital and although I knew he was not well did not realise how seriously and I have only just heard he had died. RIP Bro Cyril and thank you.
I was 13 when my father died in Cardiff 1986. Bro Cyril was my head-teacher at the time. He attended dad’s funeral. In the September, when we returned from the holidays, he was genuinely shocked at my concentration in church and quote”you really pray to God, don’t you son?”, this was followed by a short vote of confidence in me and my suitability for priesthood. He was a caring man who looked out for his students. RIP Brother Cyril.