Shirley wanted to make the significant donation to honour her late husband, Paul. Shirley also wanted to make a contribution that would ensure the great work of future nursing and PSW graduates at Fleming College continues.
Paul and Shirley O’Neill, both born in Lindsay, met as teenagers at a local dance hall. They married in 1962.
The couple spent most of their working years in Oshawa, devoting much of their 30-year careers to Oshawa Hydro and General Motors. They returned to the Lindsay area after retirement.
Paul passed away in 2013.
At 88 years old, Shirley is an avid sports fan and counts both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Blue Jays among her favourite teams.