It is with great sadness that AHRC New York City marks the passing of Genevieve “Gene” O’Neil. Gene was the loving mother of three children, two of whom were people with Down Syndrome, Jimmy and Peggy, who received all of their services from AHRC NYC. She was also very proud of her daughter Kathleen who survives her. Gene became a member of the organization in 1959 after her son’s birth and continuously served on the Board of Directors of AHRC NYC from 1980 until her retirement from the Board in 2018.
She was the President of the Chapter from 2003-2005 and during her tenure as President the three Annual Dinners honored some of our most celebrated guests, then-Senator Hilary Clinton, Senator Chuck Schumer and then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. During her more than three decades on the Board, in addition to being President, Gene served as the Third Vice President, First Vice President, and Fourth Vice President. She served and/or chaired innumerable Board Committees, chaired the Dinner Committee in 2008, received the Anne Kraus Award in 2009 and served on the Board of Governors of our state organization for over a decade being honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2006.
A legal secretary during her working years, she rose to a leadership position at AHRC NYC – being at the helm of a multi-million dollar organization during years of tremendous growth. This was a major achievement for a woman who took the cards dealt to her and helped to change the world for her children and many other children. As a devoted mother, she did all of this with a passion that can only be displayed by a person who deeply cares about the needs of people with developmental disabilities, and their families.
Gene was selfless and caring. She was known for crying when she was moved – and she was moved often by many of her fellow families and the people we support at AHRC NYC. Gene’s voice was that of a consummate advocate for her own children when they were alive (Jimmy passed away in 2003 and Peggy in 2012) and for the children of other people. It is hard to envision what AHRC NYC would have been like without Gene.
Our sincere condolences to her daughter and her grandchildren who accompanied Gene to many events and celebrations over the decades. We thank them for sharing her with us!
