By Megan O’Neill
I was excited to sit down with Lyn O’Neil for this month’s Coffee with Meg. I knew her mostly through her role as North Andover’s Director of Special Education and my involvement with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). But one of my favorite things about these conversations is getting to know people beyond the roles we associate with them.
With Lyn, that meant discovering just how deeply her life is rooted in North Andover.
“Small-town life means people always find their way back into your world. You shouldn’t fight that dynamic but instead, embrace the historical loyalty. There is a rare, unconditional comfort in being surrounded by people who know where you came from, who saw your family through every season, and who also love you because of the history you share,” Lyn told me.
Lyn has lived here her entire life. She is one of four siblings, all of whom still call North Andover home. Her mother, known affectionately as JJ to her grandchildren and many others around town, lives here, too. JJ is one of six children, and many of Lyn’s extended family members have also built their lives in town.
As Lyn described her extended family, I struggled to keep track of just how many relatives live nearby. There’s even a family joke that anyone marrying into the family must agree to stay in North Andover.
What struck me wasn’t simply their proximity. It was how much they genuinely enjoy being together.
When Lyn’s children, Daniel, Courtney, and Jake, were young, family members helped make it possible for her to work while raising them. Her mother-in-law, Pat O’Neil—Mimi to the children— was an especially important part of that support system.
We talk a lot about wanting community: people who show up, help with children, celebrate milestones, and make daily life a little easier. Lyn grew up surrounded by that support. But her family has also made a deliberate effort to sustain it.
Every year, her cousin LeeAnn Keegan, now joined by their cousin Jill Nashawaty, creates a family calendar filled with photo collages from gatherings and celebrations over the previous year. It’s a record of time spent together, one year after another. Then there are the competitions.
Lyn’s grandfather owned Tip Top Golf, once located on Chickering Rd, across from where Brando’s stands today. He died before Lyn was born, but two original golf clubs from his business remain part of the family’s holiday traditions. Each year, relatives gather for a competition using those same clubs.
I loved that detail. Here was a man Lyn never had the chance to meet, and his family is still finding a way to celebrate something he loved.
Another tradition began in the early 1990s, when five local couples started an ornament party. Everyone brought an appetizer, a drink, and an ornament to exchange. Originally, it was an adults-only evening for parents raising young children. Over time, their children joined the festivities, and the gathering expanded to include siblings and other relatives.
Something that began as a night out for friends became another multi-generational tradition.
As Lyn shared these stories, I began to understand what she meant by “historical loyalty.” It isn’t just about living near family. It’s about remembering the connections that came before youand making room for new ones.
Lyn recalled going away to college and occasionally giving other students from the Merrimack Valley a ride home.
When she mentioned their names, her father would often respond, “Oh, I know his dad.”
A friendship that felt new to Lyn was sometimes part of a relationship stretching back decades.
Of course, staying connected doesn’t mean everyone always agrees. Lyn spoke about recognizing that people generally approach situations with good intentions, even when their perspectives differ. Sometimes preserving a relationship means extending grace and moving past a disagreement.
That outlook also shapes her professional life.
Before joining North Andover Public Schools, Lyn worked in Lawrence, Georgetown, Melrose, and Wakefield. She admitted she had been hesitant to work in the town where she had spent her entire life.
As a special education administrator, she navigates conversations about children’s needs, parents’ concerns, and decisions that deeply affect families. Those discussions can be emotional. In her hometown, the person across the table might also be a neighbor, an old friend, or someone she encounters at the grocery store.
Lyn emphasized kindness, transparency, and understanding. She also spoke appreciatively of the teachers and staff who devote their careers to North Andover’s children.
One lesson from a mentor has stayed with her: when parents enter a difficult conversation, their emotions often come from love, fear, or both. They want to protect their children and ensure they receive the support they need.
Remembering that doesn’t eliminate disagreements. But it can change how we listen and respond.
Lyn’s longtime friend Sarah Wellock, who has known her for more than 20 years, recognizes that same quality in her personal life.
“In all of those settings, she demonstrates an inclusivity that extends above and beyond. Lyn has a way of making everyone feel that they matter,” Sarah shared.
Whether supporting families, comforting friends through loss, or opening her home to dogs in need, Lyn makes herself available.
“She is always available to help solve problems, as well as being a guiding light in the good and the difficult times.”
As I listened, it became clear that historical loyalty isn’t only something Lyn inherited. It’s something she practices: maintaining relationships, showing up for others, and remembering that people matter more than a moment of disagreement.
I keep coming back to those two old golf clubs. They could easily have been forgotten in a basement. Instead, Lyn’s family brings them out year after year, creating new memories around a story that began before many of them were born.
That’s what community looks like to me. Not simply people living in the same town, but people choosing to stay connected, make time for one another, and carry traditions forward.
For Lyn O’Neil, North Andover is where she grew up, raised her children, and now works. It’s also where family stories become new memories, old friendships connect to new ones, and today’s traditions may someday become the stories her grandchildren tell.
That’s a pretty special kind of home.
Megan O’Neill is a North Andover resident who appreciates the work her neighbors put into making our community so special. Have someone who you think she should profile? Email us at editor@northandoverlife.com
