I grew up beside the O'Neill's. What beautiful memories I have as a child and teenager of them. The times spent just going next door to chat and the Clarks Hill Lake visits to their lake home. I often tell my girls of how I learned to ski and how wonderful it was to go there. He will always be in my memories. I love you Mrs. O'Neill!!!
When I think of George O'Niell this is what I remember:I remember learning about stars,planets, and seeing Sputnik in the night sky. I remember learning fireworks safety. I remember getting pennies instead of candy for halloween. I remember feeling loved by a man who was not my father or grandfather but felt as close. I remember accepting and being accepted by someone I thought "talked funny". This taught me "different" can be very good. I cherish these memories.
Trips to Clarks Hill, Fishing Village, skiing and fishing lessons, stories on the way home,hot air balloons, always a kind and understanding heart, a teacher and a friend, my second father, my best friends dad.
George was a friend and coworker from the time we both signed on at Argonne in 1952. he was a fine gentleman with a fabulous sense of humor, and will be missed greatly by the Aiken community.
He was like a second father to me with time spent at the cabin on Clarkes Hill, boating, water skiing, fishing, ect. He got us Laird,Luther,and myself interested in the sky looking for satellites, shooting stars and UFO'S. When he spoke we listened, he always gave us words of wisdom. I remember him fondly.
By the time I arrived in 1963, George was already a senior mentor in experimental physics at Savannah River Laboratory and in charge of the experimental reactors. Few know of the truly remarkable work accomplished there. All who worked with him have very fond memories of their time with him and will miss him greatly.
