Robert F. "Sparky" O'Neil

Robert F. "Sparky" O'Neil, age 86, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2025, at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham, Massachusetts. Born in Norwood, Massachusetts on May 30, 1938, he was the son of the late Leo F. and Margaret (Brogan) O'Neil. 

Sparky was raised in Walpole, where, as a young boy, he found his love for the game of baseball, sharpening his skills as he grew. He took his love of baseball to Walpole High School, where he was a starter on the varsity team before his graduation in 1957. Following his graduation, Sparky got his start in the automotive repair field, working at Leard Chevrolet on Route 1A in Walpole. While working at Leard's he found his passion for Corvettes, driving his first one off the lot. 

Every day, Sparky would go to lunch with his friend, Leo Connolly, at Dom's Coffee Shop in Walpole center, grabbing a bite to eat but also flirting with his favorite waitress, Marge Bannon. These daily meetings turned into a first date and a love story. Sparky and Marge were married on June 4, 1966, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Walpole. Together, the young couple made their home in an apartment in Walpole before purchasing a house on Pemberton Street, where they raised two girls, Jennifer and Aimee. 

Sparky joined his friend, Leo Connolly, at Michael J. Connolly and Sons in Walpole, working as a mechanic on the fleet of school buses. It was a short-lived venture, as he left to drive a truck and work as a mechanic for Billy Connolly. In 1972, Sparky returned to the bus company, working alongside his friend and the Connolly family for fifty-three years. Everyone in the company knew when Sparky showed up in his red service truck "BUS 2" that everything was going to be okay.

As a result of the years of on-the-job training, there was nothing that Sparky couldn't fix. He was the go to guy for any mechanical job and he took great pride in keeping older equipment running and functioning well. During the oil embargo in the 1970s, Sparky and his friends built their own wood splitters in an effort to keep heating costs down in their homes. He rebuilt countless steam engines and was proud to keep the lawn mower that his mother-in-law passed down to him fully operational until just a couple of years ago. 

Sparky's love for motors traveled well past the engine bays of buses and backyard builds. In his younger years, he looked forward to a night out at the Norwood Arena, watching the area amateur drivers face off on the track and volunteering with the crash cleanup crew. As an avid NASCAR fan, Sparky enjoyed watching the big races on television, and enjoyed trips to Seekonk Speedway and Thompson Speedway to watch the live action. In addition to the speed and mechanical components of cars, Sparky had an appreciation for the aesthetics, often checking out the cruise night at the Cliquot Club in Millis followed by dinner at Budabing's 50s Cafe with his buddies. Of course, he never lost his love for the Chevrolet Corvette, owning four different models over the years. As winter set in, Sparky fired up his snow mobiles, taking to the trails in Walpole and the surrounding towns with his family. Trips to New Hampshire with friends were always a welcomed getaway for Sparky and Marge, towing their sleds north to check out new trails.

Throughout his life, Sparky loved spending time with his friends, whether on the golf course or bowling at Petracca's Lanes. He had a Sunday morning tradition of meeting his buddies at Country Kitchen to talk about life, family, and work, which eventually turned into a daily meeting, doing their best to solve the world's problems over a cup of hot chocolate. Back at home, Sparky enjoyed tending to his koi pond as well as maintaining his salt and freshwater fish tanks, or catching a baseball game on television, no matter who was playing.

Beloved husband of Margaret B. "Marge" O'Neil.

Loving father of Jennifer O'Neil of York, Maine and Aimee F. O'Neil of Stephens City, Virginia.

Cherished grandfather of Stefanie, Brooke, and Margaret.

Brother of Sheila Smith of Walpole, the late Leone Geromini, and the late Brian O'Neil.

Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Sparky's Life Celebration on Tuesday, January 21st, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.

A Funeral Home Service will be held on Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025, at 11:00 am. Interment will follow in Rural Cemetery in Walpole.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Sparky's name may be made to Meals of Wheels, c/o HESSCO, 545 South Street, Suite 300, Walpole, MA 02081 or by visiting https://hessco.org/