O'Neill was diagnosed with leukemia in 1985. He died on April 27, 1992, from complications of the disease at the Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City, California. He was survived by his wife Tasha, his ex-wife Sylvia, and his four children."O'Neill, Dr. Roger A." 2008 A sample of his incinerated remains was buried in space. The Celestis vial containing his ashes was attached with vials of other Celestis participants to a Pegasus XL rocket and launched into Earth orbit on April 21, 1997.Quarterly Launch Report 3Q 1997 It re-entered the atmosphere in May 2002."Pegasus HAPS Rocket Body Reentry Prediction" 2002
