Remembering Stephen O’Neill

On Saturday 16th July 2022 the city of Liverpool lost one of its most beautiful, kind and inspirational sons, Stephen O’Neill, at the young age of 49. Stephen was a dear friend to many of us in Liverpool and especially in the local music scene.

Stephen was an extremely well know and loved figure. You either met him busking, in a pub or at a party waxing lyrically about his love of music, plants, nature and people. A deeply interesting, intelligent, funny, kind and caring individual who would leave a permanent mark on all who met him. He was one of those rare people who became your friend by just saying hello to him. He was one of those beautiful souls who would smile at a stranger, help an old lady cross the road or sit on the floor next to a homeless person and tell them how special they were whilst buying them lunch with his last few quid leaving him having to walk home afterwards because he’d spent his bus fare helping them.

Since Stephens’s passing many of the people he met and became friends with have left personal memories on his social media describing how much he impacted their lives. Sometimes you see someone like Stephen and you only have your experiences of them, not realising how much they actually impacted others and the world. All of these beautiful memories shared by others gave me a glimpse of that. He certainly left his mark on this world in his short time on it.

(Stephen and friend Bev Stephenson_Credit: Bev Stephenson)

Stephen was also an amazing singer/songwriter and guitarist and my first memories of Stephen are of him playing the guitar. In 2010 I fell on hard times and had to move into a shared house in the Kensington area of Liverpool, it was an extremely hard time of my life.

I remember the day I moved in, walking into the shared living room and there were three lads sat with a few beers playing the guitar, Stephen was one of them, he didn’t live there and I later found out that he was just there to see his mates who lived there, he was the first person to speak to me and I remember his first words where fancy a beer and a jam man?

From that moment we just clicked and sat around for hours playing cover songs and telling each other about our lives, our loves, pains and fears, he just had this way of making you feel like you really mattered and at that time in my life, I needed that more than anything!

We spent about a year in that house playing music and writing songs together and although it was one of the hardest years of my life it was all made a little better by having Stephen turn up most days with his massive smile, a silly joke and usually waking me up with some food or something he had brought round for me because I was so skint. Eventually, I secured my own flat in town and moved out and sadly we lost contact for a few years.

Thankfully we bumped into each other again on London road outside T.J Hughes and went for a pint and never lost touch again.

We never really got to spend much time with each other in the last few years but Stephen never failed to keep in touch on social media, he would always pop up on my posts when I had something to celebrate or when I felt down and would spend time writing long messages filled with wisdom, love and support, always telling me how special I was even when I didn’t feel it. We made many promises to jam again but sadly we never did and that is something I will always regret.

My experience with Stephen was special and I will always be grateful to have known him and like many, my story of Stephen and his impact on this world is just one of the thousands that others will have to tell. He really did impact this world with his love and generous soul.

They say “The brightest stars burn the fastest, so we must love them while we can.” And Stephen was most definitely one of the brightest stars I ever met.

Stephen was a father, son, brother, uncle and friend to many others and I send my deepest condolences to his family at this tough time.

At the moment Stephens’s family are arranging Stephens’s funeral and the family has made the decision to let his friends help out by donating saying ‘It’s a cost we didn’t expect and because so many of his friends have offered to help we thought we’d allow them to play a part’.  

(Stephen and a friend_Credit: Rebecca Alice Williams)

Stephens’s brother Gary said…

On Saturday 16th of July, my amazing brother lost his life at the age of 49. He was the life and soul of any party and thought he’d live forever. My sister and I have been left with the bill for his funeral. I didn’t realise how many friends he had and everyone wants to be a part of his sending off. He loved flowers and plants but wasn’t one for cut flowers, which he considered a waste of money. I was thinking if any of his friends would like to contribute to the expensive costs then this gesture would be extremely appreciated.

If we raise more than needed to help towards or pay for it, we will donate the difference to the stroke charity and a charity that helps the homeless in his memory.

If you would like to donate and help Stephen’s family give him the send off he deserves then please click on the link below.

Donate HERE. JUSTGIVING: Stephen O’Neill 

I will update this with Stephen’s funeral arrangements when his family announce them.

By Billy Vitch