Jack O'Neill
Marital Status:
Convinced a fellow classmate, Carol Rizzo to marry me in '84. After 21 years, convincing her to stay is a full time job. Don't know what I would do with out her.
Children?
Three freak'in girls. At first it fun, but now…. give me a gun!!!
Grandchildren?
I hope they have kids someday. Then they will understand their father better.
Education:
Class of 76. What else do I need? So I thought. (Should have finished college)
Occupation:
Self-employed, child psychiatrist, marriage counselor, lawn boy, atm machine, my daughter's dates worse nightmare and weekend alcoholic. I love this job!!!
Volunteer and Professional Activities:
Help with soup kitchen for the homeless, look after local elderly living alone, hopping some day they leave me something. So far nothing, just kidding.
Current hobbies and interests:
Still play pick-up basketball. Now we play at GW gym, which brings back memories of me on the 9th grade team, passing to the wrong team or missing foul shots. I still play that way now. It's a great run. Interests: I guess I would have to say keeping my girls safe until they move out of the house.
What percentage of your hair is visibly gray (is this a trick question?)
No trick question here. What you see, is what you get. Carol says I don't have gray because I don't worry and stress about things enough. Don't know how true that is.
If you had one year free of all responsibility and unlimited funds, what would you do?
I'm a guy who needs responsibility and if I had unlimited funds…. it would be bad, real bad.
What are the most rewarding things that you have done in your life?
Staying married 21 years, raising three daughters. I hope some day I will be rewarded.
What rewarding things do you plan to do in your life?
Get the kids out of the house and retire with my beautiful wife, only if Carol still likes me, or else I'll retire with someone else's beautiful wife.
What are your favorite non-family related things to do in your free time?
Play basketball, motorcycle rides, look at beautiful girls, (preferably older than my daughters.)
How would you best describe your idea of "being successful?"
Good food, good booze and a good wife, Carol. I'm easily pleased.
What are your most vivid memories of your days in Ridgewood?
Growing up with 5 sisters. Our house was always full of people. The high school years were even worse. Friends would just show-up. You know who you are, Dave Fairweather, Matt Patrick, Mitch Morrison, Billy Callanan, Cindy Leber, Diane Parsekian, Mary Cooper, Kelly Hudson, Jean McGillicuddy, Bruce Badia, Steve Curran, Johnny Clark, Keith Gregory, (who I found one night making out with my future wife in my car in my driveway.) Patty Reider, Patty Sheehan, Tommy Dee, Patrice Felice, Bill Mahoney, Dimitry Schidlovsky, Bill Cannon. Just ask any of these fellow classmates and they will till you what it was like at the O'Neill house. Ridgewood was a great place to grow-up.
What achievement or activity are you most proud of in your life?
Staying married this long, raising kids, owning my own business and staying healthy enough to enjoy it.
What single piece of wisdom would you like to leave for the next generation?
Nothing, any wisdom I give to my kid, they don't want to hear or they say, ”that's what they did in the olden days. So let them learn on their own.”
How have you changed since high school?
Carol says, I haven't changed a bit. Still like to party, chase her around the bed rm, kitchen, living rm, wherever, but one thing has changed, I'm in bed by 10.
What else should we know about you?!
After reading this, it sounds like I'm a whipped husband. But I am a happy one.