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Donald Rogers O'Neal was born in Brooklyn, New York. He studied photographic and Industrial Design, from 1965 to 1969, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Constructive Design & Photography from Florida State University. In 1979 he received his MS degree in Administration and Supervision, while teaching in Florida's Brevard County School System.
Donald was a photographic educator and art teacher for over 35 years, at Merritt Island High School, Merritt Island, Florida, where he taught all phases of photography, darkroom techniques and Advanced Placement courses. After retiring from his teaching career, he relocated to the Asheville, North Carolina area in 2005, where he continued his photographic passions.
His photography skills evolved with the ever-changing technology and through teaching students he earned numerous awards and accreditations for excellence in the visual arts. Because of a deep interest and talent in conceptualizing, multi-imaging and digitizing, O'Neal produced exceptional images with the computer for over twenty years. He held featured exhibits on the Galapagos Islands and maintained a collection of works simply entitled "Windows".
Along with his photography and teaching career, Donald was a dedicated volunteer firefighter, for over 24 years, and Emergency Medical Technician for 6 years. Don kept up this tradition even after retiring from his teaching career by volunteering with the Jupiter Fire Department, in his new community in North Carolina. Don served as Safety Officer (1635), and was voted Fireman of the Year in 2006.
Donald Rogers O'Neal, a genuine hero in every sense of the word, lost his heroic fight with cancer, and died on June 14th, 2007. He leaves behind a loving family, many wonderful friends and colleagues, and a body of truly life-changing work. We will always remember him, and you can always leave a thought for him.
Art and Artist are captured together in this 1997 photograph of Donald O'Neal taken during his Galapagos Islands exhibit.
