Daniel ONeil

Daniel Patrick O’Neil was a gifted engineer and a passionate artist, a young man who balanced a love for science with a deep appreciation for music and theater. A 22-year-old White male from Lincoln, Rhode Island, Daniel was known for his intelligence, creativity, and loyalty to his friends and family. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, where he was a dean's list student who embraced all the school had to offer. There, he was vice president of the Arts Society, a member of the Marquis Players acting group, and lived in the Arts House. He was an avid musician who played guitar and piano, writing and recording his own songs which he posted on his website. A friend described him as smart, responsible, and destined for success.

Daniel’s academic journey led him to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, where he was pursuing a master's degree in environmental engineering and working as a teaching assistant. He was maintaining a 4.0 grade average and had discovered a passion for hydrology, planning a career as a water resources engineer. His interests were broad, ranging from running and backpacking to Red Sox baseball and Hokie football. He had a love for travel, having studied abroad in Belgium and explored much of Western Europe, and he dreamed of one day living in Dublin, Ireland.

On the morning of April 16, 2007, Daniel was in his Advanced Hydrology class in Norris Hall on the Virginia Tech campus. That morning, a 23-year-old undergraduate student, Seung-Hui Cho, began a rampage that would become one of the deadliest school shootings in American history. After an initial attack at a dormitory, Cho made his way to Norris Hall. He entered the classroom and opened fire. Daniel, his professor G.V. Loganathan, and eight of his classmates were killed. In total, the gunman killed 32 students and faculty members and wounded 17 others before taking his own life as police closed in.

The immense tragedy prompted a massive response from law enforcement and plunged the university and the nation into mourning. The investigation that followed examined the perpetrator's history of mental health issues and the university's response on the day of the attacks. A state-appointed panel later faulted university officials for delays in warning the campus community after the first shootings occurred. The event led to widespread debate and changes in campus safety protocols and mental health services across the country.

In the days and weeks following the tragedy, Daniel's family and friends gathered to remember a life full of promise. A wake was held at his high school gymnasium in Lincoln, followed by a funeral Mass at St. Jude's Church. His loved ones remembered his kindness, his passion for music, and his dedication to both his engineering work and his artistic pursuits. He was recalled as a remarkable young man who was a friend to all and deeply loved his family.

To honor his memory, Daniel’s friends and family established The Daniel O'Neil Memorial Fund. The fund provides scholarships to graduating seniors from his alma mater, Lincoln High School, who demonstrate financial need and share his passion for music. His friends also compiled a CD of his original music, titled "Resident Hippy," with all proceeds benefiting the scholarship fund. Through these efforts and the memories shared by those who knew him, Daniel Patrick O'Neil is remembered not for the way he died, but for the vibrant and creative way he lived.