Claire Williams O'Neil Profile
Claire Williams O'Neil (1907-1980)
Claire Williams O'Neil was a native of
Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Mary Ryan
and A.J. Williams. The history of her family mirrors
that of Susquehanna itself. Her ancestors migrated
to the town in the 1850's and her paternal
grandfather served as a company commander in the 6th
Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve during the Civil War
and fought in the battles of Fredericksburg and
Gettysburg.
She graduated from Mansfield University in 1928
with a degree in education, and became an elementary
school teacher in Susquehanna. She married James
O'Neil of Great Bend in 1930 and raised a family of
three children, then returned to teach at the Laurel
Street Elementary School in 1953, where she stayed until her
retirement in 1972.
Throughout her life, Claire O'Neil was a
passionate advocate of the importance of education
not only to the individual, but also to the
community. She inspired her children, nieces,
grandchildren and many former pupils to value
education not only as the path to self-improvement
but also as a stepping stone to serving the
community.
The establishment in 2000 of a Foundation in her
name celebrates not only the inspiration she gave to
so many but also the long standing ties of the Williams and O'Neil families to the local community.