Tuesday, June 9, 2026
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James R O’Neill
9/28/56 - 6/5/26
Hardly perfect, but perhaps as close to a Saint as we’ll ever know
Awesome father and son
Master builder/carpenter
Jack of many trades
Amazing musician!
BFF over 47 years. The older big brother I never had!
Roommate twice, including giving me a cheap, loving place to live during a tuff transition
Band mate
Dead Head (9/27/76 first show)
Booze Brother BITD
Always doing for others, often via personal sacrifice, etc, etc
Words cannot adequately express what a great friend and all around good guy he was.
He had been Ill for awhile, so happy he’s not suffering anymore, and not a huge surprise, but it still is a big loss and will take a long time to process.
As often happens later in life, we didn’t always talk often, and as it became harder for him nearer the end, not even much texting. He seemed to really enjoy nature/wildlife photos from my daily walks I’d text him the last year or so, so when he stopped responding to those a few moths ago, I knew things were deteriorating. Just like his dog Shlitz, one of his many pets, when she stopped wanting to play ball (she could be obnoxious about it lol) we knew it was time. So he’d been on my mind a lot lately.
Unfortunately I was not able to get him on the phone last couple months, which I’ll have to live with…but I will always be grateful for all he did, especially helping me to go furthur, teaching me so much about life, music, and books, skills, etc etc.that I doubt I would have learned elsewhere!
Those who knew him and benefited from his kindness and generosity are fortunate perhaps more than we know!
We used to kid him that he should put a sign on his house “O’Neill home for wayward souls” dogs, people and especially cats, he took in so many of us over the years…
An Amazing bass player! Anyone who was a DH in Syracuse late eighties probably saw him play with Homel Alaniz Band, especially at Sutters Mill. Back in Western NY in the nineties, he was the lynchpin of The Wild Knights, one of the best relatively unknown Dead Bands EVER!
Wednesday night before Thanksgiving was thee DH event in Buffalo in those daze, and there’d be a line down the street, folks waiting in clod rain and snow for someone to leave so they could get into the always over sold out Tralfamadore Club downtown.
Too many memories to even begin to tell.
So I’ll just say thanks for being my best friend ever, even after I broke your ribs being an idiot, through so many years and situations, you were always there when we needed ya.
I’ll miss you and love you more than words can tell, but relieved your suffering is over and your on to the next thing, probably unselfishly getting things ready for those you loved and cared for all these years.
May the four winds blow you safely home!
I used to call him every year on his birthday. Five years ago as he was starting his illness, he told me if he could make it five more years, he’d be happy. Well my brother from another most excellent mother, you damn near made it! Good Job, as always!
Onward my brother, through the fog…
Love Pedro
aka P Air LeFarte
