Natalie "Nikki" (Damon) O'Neill

Natalie “Nikki” S. (Damon) O’Neill, 90, of East Hampton, passed away Monday May 11th at her home surrounded by her closest friends. She was married to Governor William O’Neill for 45 years before his death on November 24, 2007. Born in Leominster, MA, on April 5, 1936 to the late Alice (O’Donnell) and George Damon. She had a brother George Jr. who predeceased her also. Nikki graduated from Leominster High School in 1954 and the University of New Hampshire in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. She did graduate work at Worcester State Teacher’s College, Boston University, University of Hartford and University of Connecticut.

Nikki taught school for two years in Ashby, MA and two years in East Hartford, CT. She met and married Bill O’Neill on December 1, 1962 and went on to teach for 21 years in East Hampton. Nikki spent ten years and ten days as First Lady of Connecticut. During that time she was an active participant in and contributor to many civic, cultural and charitable concerns. She was pleased to make the Governor’s Residence available to 118 charities and organizations, and she only missed one event. She also made the Residence available to CT artists to display their works. During that 10 year period, she collected over 500 books written by 200 CT authors to be housed in the Governor’s Library at the Residence in Hartford.

She and her husband moved back to East Hampton in January of 1991. Both she and her husband felt it was a privilege and an honor to play a small part in the history of Connecticut.

After her husband’s passing in 2007 and that she had no living family, she always said she depended on her many friends to make life worth living.

In keeping with Nikki’s wishes, there will be no calling hours and funeral arrangements will be PRIVATE. She will be laid to rest along side her husband in the CT State Veteran’s Cemetery in Middletown. Spencer Funeral Home has care of arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the East Hampton Volunteer Fire Department 5 Barton Hill Rd. East Hampton, CT 06424, or the East Hampton Ambulance Assoc. P.O. Box 144 East Hampton, CT 06424. 

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