Leo Edward O'Neil

Leo O'Neil was born on January 31, 1928, in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He attended both Blessed Sacrament School and Sacred Heart High School in that town.^[1] In 1945 he entered Maryknoll Junior Seminary in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.^[1] He studied at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire, for a year before attending the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec from 1950 to 1955.^[1]

O'Neil was ordained to the priesthood in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the Diocese of Springfield in Massachusetts by Bishop Christopher Weldon on June 4, 1955.^[2] He then served as parochial vicar in several parishes in the diocese and was named pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish at Haydenville, Massachusetts, in 1976.^[1]

On June 30, 1980, O'Neil was appointed auxiliary bishop of Springfield in Massachusetts and titular bishop of Bencenna by Pope John Paul II.^[2] He received his episcopal consecration at St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield on August 22, 1980, from Bishop Joseph Maguire, with Bishops Tomás Roberto Manning and Timothy Harrington serving as co-consecrators.^[2]

John Paul II named O'Neil as coadjutor bishop of Manchester on October 17, 1989. When Bishop Odore Gendron retired, O'Neil automatically succeeded him on June 12, 1990.^[2] He was installed at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Manchester on November 30, 1990.^[3]

During his tenure, O'Neil worked to foster a common vision among New Hampshire Catholics with a program entitled "Renewing the Covenant."^[3] He also won the affection of people with his inspirational homilies and flair for poetry. In 1993, O'Neil underwent surgery for multiple myeloma.^[3] He continued to battle with cancer and serve as bishop for four more years.

O'Neil died at age 69 in Manchester on November 30, 1997 — the seventh anniversary of his installation.^[3]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Odore Joseph Gendron	Bishop of Manchester 1990–1997	Succeeded by John Brendan McCormack