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Members of the Lafayette community offered stories of friendship and remembrance of Daniel Patrick O’Neil ’06 today in Colton Chapel.
Almost 300 students, faculty, and alumni attended a campus service for O’Neil, a civil engineering graduate who was one of 32 people killed at Virginia Tech on April 16. O’Neil’s parents and other family members also attended the service.
The Lafayette Concert Choir performed “Voice Dance” in O’Neil’s memory and Jay Ronald Martin, professor of chemical engineering, provided musical background on the organ.
John P. Colatch, director of religious life and College chaplain, Robert Weiner, Jones Professor of History and Jewish chaplain, and Charles Norman, Catholic chaplain, offered readings and words of encouragement.
Colatch stressed that sadness like this will take time to heal and the purpose of the service was not to add to that grief, but to offer strength and companionship. “Tell stories of Dan so others who did not know him will know him and the gifts he had to offer,” he said.
Classmates and professors reminisced of a man who loved engineering, the arts, singing, and the Red Sox, but most importantly, was a good friend.
David Brandes, associate professor and acting head of civil and environmental engineering, worked with O’Neil both in the classroom and through numerous research projects. He spoke about O’Neil stopping by his office about two months ago.
“The conversation focused around his courses and his research plans for next year,” Brandes said. “I got the sense that he was very happy with his decision to go on to graduate school. There’s really nothing more fulfilling for a teacher than to hear from a former student like this, and it demonstrates the depth of Dan’s character.
“Students often don’t appreciate that education is a two way street. We learn from them as well. Dan taught me about passion, humor, and appreciation for friendship, and I want to thank him for teaching me this.”
English graduate Tyler Cohn ’06, mechanical engineering major Lindsay Hannum ’07, and English and French double major Maggie Oberrender ’07 also shared their memories of O’Neil.
“Dan was a part of so many of our favorite stories,” said Oberrender. “There were so many unforgettable moments that we’ll never run out of stories to tell.”
The College has established the Daniel P. O’Neil ’06 Memorial Fund. Checks should be made to “Lafayette College” with “O’Neil Fund” in the memo field and mailed to Lafayette College, 307 Markle Hall, Easton, PA 18042. The area that the fund will support will be determined in consultation with his family. For more information, contact Deb Rhebergen ’03, assistant director of the annual fund, rhebergd@lafayette.edu, (610) 330-5013.
A memorial fund has also been established in O’Neil’s hometown of Lincoln, R.I., and friends there plan to produce a CD of his music as a fundraiser. Twenty-five of his songs can be heard at his web site, www.residenthippy.com.