John Diehl “Jack” O’Neill Jr., a retired McCormick & Co. executive who was also a certified public accountant, died June 17 from cancer at Gilchrist Hospice Care in Towson. The former Cockeysville resident was 78.

He was born in Baltimore and raised in Ruxton, the son of John D. O’Neill, a chief executive officer for Lion Bros., and Carlyn E. O’Neill, a homemaker.

He was a 1957 graduate of Loyola Blakefield and received a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1961 from the Johns Hopkins University.

He became a certified public accountant in 1963.

He started his business career in 1961 at Western Electric Co. and joined McCormick & Co. two years later.

Mr. O’Neill was controller of McCormick’s Food Services division before being named vice president of investor relations for the company’s Corporate Division.

He retired in 1994.

He moved to Fort Myers, Fla., after retiring, and was active in the McCormick retiree association. He was also a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

He enjoyed baseball, softball, photography and cooking. He was a member of Herons Glen Golf & Country Club in North Fort Myers.

Mr. O’Neill was a member of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Baltimore and Ware avenues, Towson, where a funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. June 30.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, the former Susan Sinon; three daughters, Mary Carlyn O. Heffner of Reisterstown, Susan S. O’Neill of Timonium and Kathleen O. Frederick of Stewartstown, Pa.; a brother, Dennis G. O’Neill of Hunt Valley; two sisters, Patrica A. Becker of Timonium and Carol O. Shear of Towson; three grandsons; and two step-grandsons.

— Frederick N. Rasmussen