Patrick H. O’Neill, a longtime member of the Ireland-U.S. Council has passed at the age of 102 at his residence in New Canaan, Connecticut. He was born in Cordova, Alaska in 1915 to parents Harry O’Neill and Florence Leahy and grew up as the seventh of twelve children in a big Irish family.

Patrick was a long-time member of the Ireland-U.S. Council having joined the organization in the late 1960’s. Patrick was also a member of the Metropolitan Club – it was his membership that was used to facilitate the Council’s use of the club facilities over many decades. Patrick was intensely interested and engaged in the work of the Council. Long after his retirement from active work, Patrick would read each edition of the organization’s annual report from cover-to-cover and connect with the organization’s leadership to share his thoughts and observations, which were always insightful, wise and constructive.

Early in life, Patrick found his calling in the mining industry, following in the footsteps of his grandfather who had been a part of the famous Alaska Klondike Gold Rush in 1897. Patrick was only 15 when he first started working in the Chititu Creek Mine, a small placer gold mine in Alaska. He graduated from what is now the University of Alaska in Fairbanks with degrees in Mining Engineering. Patrick developed his strong work ethic by working in the mines during the summers to earn his tuition money. In the lead-up to the Second World War, Patrick obtained his pilot’s license. From 1941-1945, he proudly served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a B-17 pilot and instructor, attaining the rank of major. His mission was to train many pilots and to test aircraft to insure safer deployments overseas. After the war ended, Patrick returned to mining in Fairbanks.

His mining career took him all over the world. He served as President of International Mining Corporation. Under Patrick’s leadership the company acquired other mining companies in Colombia, Bolivia, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, and the United States. As President, Patrick would go on to serve as President or Chairman of eight affiliated mining companies and on the boards of several major mining companies including The Fresnillo Company for 23 years, Zemex Corporation for 30 years, Placer Development, Moly Corp, Rosario Resources, and others. These companies developed and operated some of the western world’s greatest metal resources.

As an outspoken advocate for corporate policies that struck the right balance between profitability, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship, Patrick became an industry leader in calling for measures to improve the health, education, training, and safety of employees. His many lifetime contributions and achievements in the mining industry world-wide were honored with Patrick’s induction into the National Mining Hall of Fame in 2013.

Patrick O’Neill was a kind and humble man who treated all with respect, from presidents of countries to street sweepers. He never forgot that while he had risen so far and achieved so much in his life, he had started off with a shovel in his hand. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sandra and their children, Erin and Kevin and five grandchildren.