Obituary of John S MacNeill

John S. MacNeill Jr. passed away on January 19, 2010, at Cortland Regional Medical Center just five days short of his 83rd birthday. During his last years, he persevered through increasing complications of diabetes. He was born on January 24, 1927, in Weehawken, New Jersey, the son of John S. MacNeill Sr. and Margaret Stalee MacNeill. After attending a number of different schools growing up, he graduated from Homer Academy in 1944. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and served his tour of duty during the remaining months of World War II in the Pacific theater. Following the war, he earned a bachelors degree in civil engineering from Cornell University in 1950 and married the girl next door, Elizabeth Betty Hazzard. After living and working in several locations throughout New York State, John and his growing family settled in Homer. He then started his own engineering and surveying firm and subsequently joined a number of professional organizations. Participation in Cortland Rotary Club led to many rewarding years working with international exchange students, who knew him affectionately as Papa John. He and his wife, Betty, traveled all around the world visiting former exchange students and their families. John was proud of his Scottish heritage and took pleasure in being a member of the Mohawk Valley Frasers Bagpipe Band for many years, along with his wife, children, and grandchildren. John is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Elizabeth Hazzard MacNeill, their son, Allen (Leah) MacNeill of Ithaca; their daughters, Billie MacNeill of Homer and Claudia (Jerome) Caretti of Morrisville; a brother, Robert (Sue) MacNeill of Walton; a sister-in-law, Joyce MacNeill of Homer; ten grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Arthur MacNeill, of Homer. A private service for family members will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 23, at the Homer Congregational Church. The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 6, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the Wright-Beard Funeral Home in Cortland, New York. In lieu of flowers, contributions in John MacNeills memory may be made to the Cortland Rotary Club, P.O. Box 5248, Cortland, NY 13045, or the charity of ones choice. I was so sorry to hear about this, as a friend of Joyce and Dan and their family. It sounds like John lived a full life.Scott Conroe Papa John was a great man, full of love and very caring. He was open-hearted. He never forgot to send me a b-day or Christmas card in these 18 years. He will always be in my heart. My condolences to his family. I always tell my students about you. I always will.I LOVE YOU PAPA JOHN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your Argentinian daughter, Patricia Santa Cruz (Buenos Aires, Argentina) I'm very sorry to hear about his death. I have a lot of fine memories of 'papa John'. I was one of his Rotary daugthers for many years. I stayed in Cortland in 1979-1980, and ever since we wrote each other. I remember our prvate trips to Ithaca and the Nigaria falls, the Rotary trips and events which he also organized, the warm welcome from all my Rotary-families when my family visited Cortland. I also are very obliged to him that he arragend the long stay at his mom's place, because she had no animals at home and didnot smoke. I remember our trips and the visits to his home and meeting his wife Betty. So many memories... I am very sorry for his wife and cloese family and them all the strength in the difficult period to come. I always will think of John as a very caring, social and fine person. I will never forget you, John! Irene Out-Schipper (Netherlands) To Betty and family. We send our sincere condolences. Dave & Louise Crankshaw Ft Lauderdale also from former exchange student, Rune Bruteig, Oslo, Norway Dear Betty, So sorry to hear about John. We have fond memories of you and the children. Bernie Frye and Cynthia and Susan Roswell, New Mexico