SANTA CRUZ — Jack O’Neill, described as a surfer, ocean lover, boating enthusiast, wetsuit pioneer and founder of the eponymous worldwide surf company, died Friday surrounded by family in his Pleasure Point home. He was 94.
Born in Denver, Colo., O’Neill developed a love for the ocean after moving to Long Beach with his family. He received a degree in business from the University of Portland.
After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, O’Neill married his sweetheart Marjorie Bennett, and the couple moved to Ocean Beach in San Francisco. It was on his kitchen table there that he began experimenting with various materials to protect against the frigid Northern California waters.
By the 1950s O’Neill had invented the first surfing wetsuits, and opened his first shop near Ocean Beach. He also coined the phrase “Surf Shop,” for which he received a U.S. trademark.
According to O’Neill Wetsuits, his friends were skeptical of his chances, who predicted he would sell to five friends and then go out of business.
Inspired by the burgeoning surf scene in Santa Cruz, however, O’Neill moved here and opened his second surf shop, where the Dream Inn stands today.
Shortly thereafter he began making surfboards and continued to make wetsuits for surfers throughout California. By 1980, O’Neill had become the world’s largest ocean recreation wetsuit designer and manufacturer.
The surfing craze soon swept the world, bringing O’Neill wide success.
O’Neill was recognizable for the eyepatch he wore after a surfboard hit his left eye while he rode a wave.
According to O’Neill Wetsuits, his proudest achievement was establishing O’Neill Sea Odyssey, a marine and environmental education program. Now more than 20 years old, the program has hosted nearly 100,000 children, according to O’Neill Wetsuits.
O’Neill is survived by his wife Noriko, daughters Cathi, Bridget and Shawne, sons Pat, Tim and Jack, Jr. and six grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be sent to oneillseaodyssey.org.
