Robert D. McNeil

Robert D. McNeil, 78 of Venice, Florida (formerly of Enfield, CT) died Saturday October 18th 2014. A devoted husband and father, he was born in Boston Massachusetts November 8th 1935, the eldest son of Walter McNeil and Mildred Noyes McNeil. He was a graduate of Malden Catholic High School in Malden Massachusetts. Throughout his career in sales he traveled the country and enjoyed experiencing new places and meeting new people along the way. He cherished his friends and family, and was always there for them through thick and thin. During his early years he was a passionate hockey and football player (captain of his high school football team). His devotion and love of the game often led to him getting up early before school to play a game with his friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Mildred McNeil, brothers Walter (Bunky) McNeil, Paul McNeil and Thomas McNeil. Robert was a devoted husband of 50 years to Teresann McNeil and a caring and loving father to his four daughters Anne McNeil of Glastonbury CT, Kathleen McNeil of Glastonbury CT, Christine McNeil Rosenthal and her husband Matthew Rosenthal of West Hartford CT and Eileen McNeil Krar and her husband Andrew Krar of Suffield, CT. He was a loving grandfather to his three grandchildren, Michael Robert Krar, Joseph Andrew Krar and Molly Jane Rosenthal. Robert was a caring and devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend. He was the eldest of seven boys and they forever shared an unbreakable bound. He lived by Father Flanagan's motto ""He's not heavy father he's my brother"". Robert leaves behind his brothers David and his wife Sandra McNeil of Lady Lake Florida, Daniel and his wife Nancy Rausch McNeil of Lady Lake Florida, Richard McNeil of North Hampton MA and a sister-in-law Catherine McNeil of Wells, VT. Robert forever loved the Boston Patriots and Notre Dame football and would spend his weekends glued to the games after he read his Boston Globe. Starting as a caddy at a young age, he immensely enjoyed the game of golf throughout his life. He was an avid reader, lifelong learner and knew facts like no one else. He would often say the newspaper was your best education. He loved to putter in the garage and even though it may have looked like he didn't know where something was, he could find it in the blink of an eye. He saved everything, because he treasured life and the memories of loved ones. Family and friends may gather at the Epiphany Cathedral of Venice Florida on Saturday October 25 11:00 a.m. for a Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of his life. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Heart Association or American Diabetes Association in his memory.