News

Jack O'Neill

At the age of 94, Jack O'Neill, founder of the surfing company O'Neill and a pioneer in the development of the wetsuit, has passed away. Surrounded by family, O'Neill died on Friday from natural causes at his home in Santa Cruz, California. A true ocean lover and advocate for the sea, O'Neill was a surfer, boating enthusiast, and businessman. After working as a pilot in the U.S. Naval Air Corps, O'Neill moved to San Francisco and took up surfing. It was there in San Francisco where O'Neill opened his first surf shop in 1952.

Beyond his passions and business venture, O'Neill founded a marine and environmental education program for children called O'Neill Sea Odyssey (OSO). Since it was founded, the organization has worked with close to 100,000 children.

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