Gregory O'Neil
Gregory O'Neil, a longtime Atlanta resident and entrepreneur, passed away at 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, after a brief, unexpected illness. He was 84. God called Gregg home while in the embrace of his loving wife of 63 years, Alice Faulkner O'Neil.
Gregg was born May 5, 1936, at home in Butler, to Charles W. O'Neil and Henrietta A. O'Neil (Schichtl).
Gregg attended St. Paul secondary school in Butler, and St. Fidelis Seminary of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. Gregg transferred to Butler High School as a senior and graduated. Gregg matriculated to Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky., in the fall of 1954, where he obtained a bachelor of arts degree in English.
Gregg was very active in student life, including debate and student government, serving as president of his senior class. It was while attending Western that Gregg met and married his soulmate and love of his life, Alice L. Faulkner.
During his time at university, Gregg worked at Radio WKCT Bowling Green as an announcer and had the privilege of conducting his own music hour, where he interviewed popular entertainers of the day, including Elvis Presley and Ray Charles, among others.
Gregg and Alice moved to Pittsburgh, upon graduation in 1958, where he was employed by Dunn & Bradstreet and, subsequently, Accounting & Business Forms of Pittsburgh. In 1969, Gregg moved the family to Atlanta, Ga., and established Graphic Systems Inc. The company consistently ranked in the top 50 commercial printing distributors nationally and in the top 20 distributors of commercial office products in Georgia, as noted by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Gregg was a voracious reader and lifetime student of the spoken word. He especially loved poetry, which he penned and shared with family and friends alike, creating great friendships with like-minded souls, including Brendan Kennelly, professor emeritus of Trinity College.
Gregg was an accomplished instrument-rated pilot and first lieutenant of the Civil Air Patrol, with a Meritorious Service Award for search-and-rescue operations.Gregg spent many years with Alice, enjoying boating, diving and traveling around the world to Asia, Europe, Africa, and Central and South America.Gregg was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Jon Gregory O'Neil.Gregg is survived by his wife, Alice L. O'Neil; his sister, Emily Shontz of St. Cloud, Fla.; and his son, Brenden Patrick O'Neil and his wife, Kirstie, and their 11 children, Ariel (Lichtenwalner), Isabel, Liam, Aidan, Trenton, Makenna, Owen, Jon, Whitney, Declan and Adelaide O'Neil.O'NEIL — A Mass of Christian burial for Gregory O'Neil, who died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody, Ga., followed by a private graveside service.Arrangements are under the direction of H.M. Patterson & Son-Oglethorpe Hill Chapel, Atlanta, Ga.In lieu of flowers, the family requests considering a memorial gift in Gregg's honor to The Capuchin Franciscan Friars, 220 37th St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201-1806.
