Long-time NPB leader Charles O'Meilia dead at 85 (PBP) 10-17-08Long-time North Palm Beach leader Charles O'Meilia dead at 85
By BILL DIPAOLO
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 17, 2008
NORTH PALM BEACH- -Charles O'Meilia, long-time public services director and former councilman
known as a stickler for detail and passion for the village, died yesterday. He was 85.
Known as Charley to his friends, the Oklahoma native was short in stature but big in spirit for the village
where he made his home in 1968. O'Meilia served 26 yeazs as public services director and then 12 years on
the village council. Anchorage Park, Osborne Pazk and the North Palm Beach Community Center were built
while he served.
"There wasn't a pipe or wire he didn't know about. You couldn't find anyone who put more time or effort
into the village than Charlie," said former Councilman Don Noel, who served with Mr. O'Meilia from 2000-
2006.
O'Meilia was born in 1923 in Tulsa, and earned a chemistry degree at Oklahoma A & M before serving as a
U.S. Navy submarine lieutenant in the Pacific during World Waz II. Hemet his wife of 58 yeazs, Mazy Claze,
an Army nurse, in San Francisco at the end of the waz.
The couple and their five children moved to Melbourne in 1963, where Mr. O'Meilia worked in an
engineering firm. He remained in the Naval Reserve and retired as a captain in 1972.
While public service director in North Palm Beach, Mr. O'Meilia oversaw everything from the construction
of Old Port Cove on U.S. 1 to maintenance of playgrounds at Anchorage and Osborne pazks. During his
tenure, Mr. O'Meilia was chairman for 13 years of the Southern Building Code Congress, a committee that
rewrote hurricane building codes.
"He was tough. But he was fair. Nothing got past him," said Mazk Hodgkins, village director of the Parks
and Recreation.
When Mr. O'Meilia retired in 1994, he then served six two-year terms on the village council. When village
officials named the public works building on Prosperity Farms Road after him, Mr. O'Meilia was never
comfortable with the honor, said Councilman Ed Eissey.
"Charley cazed not just about things. He cared about people," said Eissey.
The flag at Village Hall is at half-staff in honor of Mr. O'Meilia, and will remain until his funeral, said
Village Manager Jimmy Knight.
"Chazlie served his country and community with great honor. We are lucky he chose North Palm Beach to be
his home," said Knight.
Mr. O'Meilia is survived by five children and two brothers. Mary Claze died in 2005. He has four
grandchildren and one great grandson. Friends can call from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at Howazd-Price Funeral
Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the scholarship fund at St. Clare Catholic Church, where
Mr. O'Meilia was an usher for many years. bill dipaolo~a~pbpost.com