It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear husband, Dad, and Poppa, Brian Francis O’Neill, peacefully on July 21st, 2023. Brian will be sorely missed by his devoted wife of 68 years, Jean, by his children Sean (Penelyn), Darcy (Janice), Nancy (Geoff), Patrick (Christina), and Sandy (Jason), as well as by his eleven grandchildren, of whom he was so proud, Heather, Meagan, Fraser, Lindsey, Julian, Audrey, Liam, Thomas, Colin, Clara, and Lucie. 

Born on Robbie Burns Day, January 25th, 1929, Brian always found humour in the fact that he was born on the most Scottish day of the year, as he was a proud Irish Catholic Montrealer his entire life. In fact, this was a defining part of his identity, as well as the notion that one must be of service to others. Brian graduated from both Loyola High School and College, and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics from McGill University. After a brief stint at Wallace Publishing, he was hired, in 1966, by Clarence Campbell to be Director of Administration at the National Hockey League’s head office in Montreal. Over the next 52 years, Brian was an instrumental part of many different aspects of the NHL, from expansion, to scheduling, to discipline, to helping former players through the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. It was in his disciplinary role that he was most known, and it was widely acknowledged by the players and team owners that Brian was a ‘’tough but always fair judge’’. It was a great honour to him when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1994, in the Builders’ category.

As far as the aspect of service, Brian’s hockey life melded nicely with his countless charitable endeavours. It seemed that he never said no to a request for his time, to advise or sit on a board, or even to donate hockey tickets or paraphernalia to a charity fundraiser. He was the Chair of the St. Mary’s Hospital board and foundation; a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Patrick’s Society of Montreal, as well as its President for two years; the founding Chairman of the Loyola High School Foundation, and a recipient of the Loyola High School Hall of Merit award; a two-term member of the St. Patrick’s Square Foundation; a warden and Chair of the Restoration campaign of St. Patrick’s Basilica; Chair of the Board of Directors of the Federation of Catholic Charities; a board member and Chair of the Sacred Heart School of Montreal Board of Directors; the Erin Sports Association’s Irishman of the Year in 1991 and its Grand Marshall for the St. Patrick’s parade in 2006. Service was not only an obligation to Brian, but very much a part of himself.

There are not the proper words to express how much Brian was loved, or how much he will be missed, but we think he would approve of this Irish poem, which will give us comfort in the days ahead.

I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.

Author unknown

Visitation at the Kane Fetterly Funeral Home, 5301 Decarie Blvd. (corner Isabella) on Friday, September 1st from 2 to 5 pm and 7 to 9 pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the St. Patrick’s Basilica , 460 René-Lévesque West, On Saturday , September 2nd at 10 am.

in lieu of flowers, donations to the charity of your choice would be appreciated