Michael O'Neill, of Leesburg, Florida, formerly of Newburgh NY, entered into rest on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 in Florida. He was 78. Son of the late John and Mary (Lawton) O'Neill, he was born July 12, 1934 in Ballyroe, County Cork, Ireland. After serving in the Irish Army, Michael immigrated to New York from Ireland in May 1954, he sailed from Cobh on the "Brittanic". He was sponsored by his uncle, Richard O'Neill. Shortly after he arrived he got his drivers license and driving is what he chose to do; NYC taxi driver, Fifth Avenue coach driver and ultimately his career began at Greyhound Lines. He met the love of his life, Mary Catherine McKinley, at an Irish Dance in New York in April 1955 and they were married on October 13, 1956 at St. Vincent Ferrar Church in Manhattan. In 1963 they moved to Newburgh with their three daughters. Mike drove to every state in the United States except Alaska and Hawaii. He was awarded Driver of the Year by Greyhound Lines in 1985 and became the Chief Driver Instructor in New York until his retirement in 1990. He continued his driving career with Leprechaun Lines in Newburgh. In 1996 Mary and Mike made the decision to retire to Florida where they had built a new home. Even then he continued to drive part time delivering new coaches all over the United States until 2007. He had been driving for 48 years and logged over 4 million miles of safe driving. Mary and Mike travelled and enjoyed their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary in Las Vegas in 2006, a gift from their daughters. In September 2010 they made one last trip to Ireland visiting their siblings and relatives and friends. Michael was very proud of his Irish heritage but most grateful to have become an American Citizen. He was a parishioner of St. Patrick's Church in Newburgh and St. Paul's Catholic Church in Leesburg where Michael was a Head Usher. Survivors include his wife, Mary Catherine (McKinley) O'Neill, whom he married on October 13, 1956 in Manhattan; daughters: Theresa M. Kavanagh and husband Patrick of Newburgh, Margaret R. Gaydos and husband Michael of Newburgh, Ann Marie Schupper and husband Robert of Hershey, Pennsylvania; grandchildren: Patrick M. Kavanagh and wife Desiree of Newburgh, Matthew J. Kavanagh of Albany, Colin P. Kavanagh of Newburgh, Jonathan S. Schupper of Hershey, Pennsylvania, Erin R. Schupper of Hershey, Pennsylvania, Michael P. Gaydos of Newburgh; great grandson Camryn Kavanagh; brothers and sisters: James O'Neill and wife Barbara of ClareMorris Ireland, John O'Neill of Ballydavid Ireland, Frances McManus of Manchester England, Margaret Barry and husband Tony of Ballydavid Ireland, Kathleen Walsh and husband John of Ballydavid Ireland; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held from 2-6 pm on Sunday, August 19 at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Monday, August 20 in St. Patrick's Church, Newburgh. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, New Windsor. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions on Michael's behalf may be sent to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Rd., Tavares, FL 32778, or through their website by clicking on their name under Memorial Donations on this page.