Jack is survived by his wife Noriko, daughters Cathi, Bridget and Shawne, sons Pat, Tim (Lisa) and Jack Jr., and grandchildren Uma, Riley, Connor, Bridget, Phoenix and Kodiak. His son Pat continues to run O’Neill Wetsuits. Jack O’Neill was inducted into the International Surfing Hall of Fame in 1991. The brand has for many years sponsored marquee rider Jordy Smith. The man’s true legacy, at least as far as O’Neill himself was concerned, is in a catamaran called the O’Neill Sea Odyssey, which he helped design. There are only four O’Neill surf shops, all of them local and owned by the wetsuit company. O’Neill at one time sponsored Dane Kealoha, Shaun Tomson and John John Florence. O’Neill Wetsuits, now a separate group, is still family-owned and run by Jack’s eldest son, Pat. O’Neill also created, grew and headed a global clothing empire before selling the licensing to another company.
#Jack o neill and family surf full
In the 1970s he replaced the two-piece design with a single, one piece full suit.
#Jack o neill and family surf Patch
After that he expanded, making beavertail jackets and long john wetsuits. Jack O’Neill, the eye patch wearing, legendary surfing icon who pioneered the modern wetsuit, has died. His inventions included a vest made of the new material that proved to keep off some of the chill. He moved operations to the wave-rich coast of Santa Cruz 90 minutes to the south. Then, at the suggestion of a friend, O’Neill tried a new material called neoprene.
But it was his tireless research and development into what would become the modern day wetsuit, that launched his business.Īt the time, seeking to spend longer sessions in the cold waters of Ocean Beach San Francisco, he tinkered with various materials including wool sweaters (which became heavy, wet and smelly), plastic sheathed sweaters (which were tight and restricted) and also, according to one source, petroleum jelly (very slippery). “All my friends said, ‘O’Neill: you will sell to five friends on the beach and then you will be out of business’” Jack said in an interview about his surf shop. Getting his start in San Francisco building surfboards in the early 1950s, O’Neill sold equipment out of his surf shop to a very small community. He later invents the neoprene wetsuit through experimentation with WWII diving vests. Jack O’Neill’s bearded face and trademarked eyepatch (the result of a surfing accident), became the iconic image synonymous with the O’Neill surf brand. Jack O’Neill opens the first surf shop in 1952 off The Great Highway, San Francisco. He was the original leader of SG-1, and later became the commander of the International Stargate Command. According to the family at the time of his passing he was “as soulful and encouraging as always, reiterating his love for his family, appreciation for a life well lived, his hopes for his friends and the oceans he loved.” ONeill, also known as John -or more commonly, Jack -was an officer in the United States Air Force who served eight years in the Stargate Program until he was transferred to the Pentagon to become the head of Homeworld Security. The 94-year-old died Friday morning, June 2 of natural causes.
Jack O’Neill, one of the first inventors of the wetsuit, has passed away. Published on June 11th, 2017 | by nowhere man 0 Wetsuit pioneer and surf brand giant Jack O’Neill dies
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