Shires
Letchworth
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In memory of
Mark Benedict O'Neill
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of lifelong Letchworth resident, Mark O'Neill, on 20th May 2025, at 71 years of age. Mark contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease which took his life after a short but difficult period of decline.
Mark was known amongst his friends, family and local community for his friendly and open demeanour, enthusiastic conversation and generosity of spirit. He was active in many aspects of Letchworth life, from his long standing association with the Cricket Club, to his stalwart early morning presence at the Leisure Centre gym, his cheerful chatter with fellow allotmenteers on Southview allotment (where he nurtured an ever-growing forest of beans), and in supporting many of Letchworth's young students through the challenges of GCSE and A level Maths and Sciences.
Mark was born in Letchworth where he would remain rooted all his life. He attended St Christopher School where tales of his parties are still exchanged between old scholars, and later went on to study chemistry (and party further) at the University of Exeter. After forays into further study and teaching, Mark joined his Father, Austin O'Neill's stamp business back in Letchworth Garden City, where he would put his vast and deep knowledge of many subjects to use in sourcing and supplying customers with thematic stamps from all over the globe.
It was back in Letchworth that he would also meet his wife, Sarah O'Neill (née Waite) and start his own family which would grow to a troupe of three children - Jessica, Kate and Tom. Mark and Sarah lived all their married lives in central Letchworth, raising their children, tending their garden, and taking trips to the Isle of Wight - a place for which they shared a great love. In 2024 Mark was thrilled to become a grandfather to his first grandchild, Max (son of Jessica and Robert), who was born and remains quite the image of Mark, with a head of untameable dark curls, and a characterful curiosity for the world; needless to say, an instant friendship was born.
One cannot write about Mark without mentioning the huge role that cricket and Letchworth Garden City Cricket Club played in his life. Known for his unorthodox bowling of googlies and calm presence at the crease, he also captained sides and coached the junior section. In later years, he remained a familiar face at the ground, always ready to talk cricket and support the teams.
Mark will leave an irreplaceable hole amongst his family and friends, in Letchworth, and in the worlds of local cricket and philately. He is perfectly summed up by a university yearbook entry: "he is my idea of a classic absent-minded professor, with a lovely warm and generous personality to boot", a fellow coursemate wrote, "they just don't make them like Mark anymore".
There will be a memorial service held for Mark on the 23rd August at the Friends Meeting House in Letchworth - attendance by invitation only.
Mark was known amongst his friends, family and local community for his friendly and open demeanour, enthusiastic conversation and generosity of spirit. He was active in many aspects of Letchworth life, from his long standing association with the Cricket Club, to his stalwart early morning presence at the Leisure Centre gym, his cheerful chatter with fellow allotmenteers on Southview allotment (where he nurtured an ever-growing forest of beans), and in supporting many of Letchworth's young students through the challenges of GCSE and A level Maths and Sciences.
Mark was born in Letchworth where he would remain rooted all his life. He attended St Christopher School where tales of his parties are still exchanged between old scholars, and later went on to study chemistry (and party further) at the University of Exeter. After forays into further study and teaching, Mark joined his Father, Austin O'Neill's stamp business back in Letchworth Garden City, where he would put his vast and deep knowledge of many subjects to use in sourcing and supplying customers with thematic stamps from all over the globe.
It was back in Letchworth that he would also meet his wife, Sarah O'Neill (née Waite) and start his own family which would grow to a troupe of three children - Jessica, Kate and Tom. Mark and Sarah lived all their married lives in central Letchworth, raising their children, tending their garden, and taking trips to the Isle of Wight - a place for which they shared a great love. In 2024 Mark was thrilled to become a grandfather to his first grandchild, Max (son of Jessica and Robert), who was born and remains quite the image of Mark, with a head of untameable dark curls, and a characterful curiosity for the world; needless to say, an instant friendship was born.
One cannot write about Mark without mentioning the huge role that cricket and Letchworth Garden City Cricket Club played in his life. Known for his unorthodox bowling of googlies and calm presence at the crease, he also captained sides and coached the junior section. In later years, he remained a familiar face at the ground, always ready to talk cricket and support the teams.
Mark will leave an irreplaceable hole amongst his family and friends, in Letchworth, and in the worlds of local cricket and philately. He is perfectly summed up by a university yearbook entry: "he is my idea of a classic absent-minded professor, with a lovely warm and generous personality to boot", a fellow coursemate wrote, "they just don't make them like Mark anymore".
There will be a memorial service held for Mark on the 23rd August at the Friends Meeting House in Letchworth - attendance by invitation only.
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