Juan (John) William O’Neill

April 14,1933 to March 15, 2006

Poet, translator, journalist, composer, activist, arts organizer, father, proud abuelo, special friend and long-time Sandy Hill fixture, Juan was born in Santiago de Cuba April 14, 1933. Juan was an only child, predeceased by parents Zelia Fromm and Edward O’Neill. His last afternoon was spent at his favourite café, working on his father’s memoir, meeting a cherished friend.

Juan attended Upper Canada College and McGill University and finished his degree in Latin American studies in Mexico City. He spent his early career working as a journalist for newspapers in Havana, Mexico City, Sudbury and Toronto. He traveled extensively throughout the Middle East in the 1970s and finally settled in Ottawa in 1976. He cared deeply about history, food, social justice, love, poetry and nurturing life from seed. He was especially motivated to provide venues for those to share their creativity who would otherwise have remained silent. Juan was kind and good.

Survived by his grieving daughter Ariel, treasured grandson Hugo, aunt Mercedita and cousins in the U.S, Juan’s family is actually vast, encompassing concentric circles of people in the Sasquatch Literary Arts and Performance Series, the expatriate latino writer’s community, and within his neighbourhood.

Immense gratitude to a close group of friends who shared Juan’s interests and were always there for him. Profound thanks to the Heart Institute ICU staff, in particular to Marian, for the compassionate and respectful care given Juan in his final hours. The spiritual support of The Ontario Poetry Society and its members and the prayers and laughter of Fathers Tom and Robert will long be remembered.

There will be a Sasquatch reading in Juan’s honour Sunday March 19^th at the Royal Oak on Laurier Avenue from 2 p.m. onwards. Among the many speakers paying tribute to him will be Seymour Mayne of the University of Ottawa.

A non-Eucharist memorial service will be held the next day, Monday March 20^th at 12 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Parish (151 Laurier East) with time made available for friends to speak or perform. Following Juan’s wishes, his ashes will be at interred at Beechwood Cemetery at a later date. Preservation of his writings will be ensured by family and friends.

Peace goes into the making of a poem as flour goes into the making of bread. – Pablo Neruda