Outdoorsman with a thirst for life
Published in the May 24, 2017 edition
WAKEFIELD — Andrew W. Oneschuk, 18, of Wakefield, was shot and killed in his apartment in Tampa, Florida on Friday, May 19.
Born in Winchester on April 27, 1999, he was the beloved son of Walter J. and Christin A. (Capone) Oneschuk of Wakefield.
Andrew was raised in Wakefield and had attended Austin Preparatory School during his middle school years before attending St. John’s Preparatory School for 9th and 10th grade. Following his two years at St. John’s, Andrew left to attend college two years early.
He spent one semester at Bard College at Simon’s Rock where he obtained his GED. He then continued his education at Bunker Hill Community College.
Andrew began working in carpentry last summer and he truly enjoyed his co-workers. On his 18th birthday in April, Andrew visited a Navy recruiter to begin taking steps towards enlistment, following in the footsteps of his father, who is a retired Lieutenant Commander.
On May 6, Andrew traveled to Florida to fish and hunt with his friend Jeremy, who was also killed the same day.
From a young age Andrew had an interest in international affairs, as well as history and loved to engage in conversation about happenings around the world.
He had a tremendous thirst for life (and barbecue cuisine) and made the most of his short time on Earth with a great deal of time spent exploring the outdoors. He loved camping, hiking, fishing, snowboarding, reading, and traveling. Additionally, Andrew had the opportunity to attend NOLS Alaska, an outdoor leadership school where he spent one month in the tundra learning about leadership in the Alaskan wilderness. It was the highlight of his life and he looked forward to returning someday. Andrew loved animals and from a young age often expressed his passion to help protect them.
He was the beloved son of Walter J. and Christin A. (Capone) Oneschuk of Wakefield. He was the loving brother of Emily C. Oneschuk of Wakefield. He was the adoring grandson of Andrea E. (Cook) Capone of Stoneham and the late Frank A. Capone Sr., and Walter and Josephine (Consoles) Oneschuk. He was the nephew of Frank A. Capone, Jr. and his wife Erin of Wakefield, Michael Capone and his girlfriend Masha of Moscow, Russia, Louis “Jay” Fenton and his wife Arlene of Lynn, and Jeffrey Fenton and his wife Kate of Pittsburgh, PA. Andrew is also survived by many loving great aunts, great uncles, cousins, family and friends.
His funeral mass will be celebrated in St. Florence Church, 47 Butler Ave., Wakefield on Saturday at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Friday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Interment will be at Forest Glade Cemetery in Wakefield.
