Richard K. Neil ’57

Richard K. Neil ’57 of Grand Rapids, Michigan, passed away on January 28. In his youth Dick was a camper, counselor, and assistant water director at YMCA Camp Chingachgook on Lake George, New York. He was an Eagle Scout. Dick graduated from Nott Terrace High School in Schenectady, New York; studied at Dartmouth, where he participated in the Canoe Club; and completed his bachelor’s and M.B.A. from his beloved University of Michigan. He served in the Air National Guard from 1958 to 1964. Dick started his first job in the buying department at Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan, New York; continued his retail career at J.L. Hudson in Detroit; and moved to Grand Rapids, where he was a buyer-merchandiser at Steketee’s department store for 13 years. He then spent 21 years at Meijer Inc., a regional retailer featuring brand-name groceries plus apparel and electronics. He loved building professional and personal relationships with colleagues locally, across the United States, and in Asia. He retired in 2001. His family was the center of his life. He enjoyed much time with his grandchildren, chauffeuring them around to whatever they were interested in and bragging about them to whoever would listen. With his wife, Marie, he followed the sunsets between Marco Island, Florida, and Grand Rapids and the family cottage in Bayfield, Ontario, Canada. He welcomed all with gracious hospitality and endless stories. Dick is survived by Marie, children Ken and Emily, and grandchildren Kennedy, Paxton, Bennett, and Lilly.