Obituary: Thomas Harold McNeil, 1951-2020

Retired engineer and Army veteran enjoyed working in his beautiful vegetable gardens

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Courtesy Photo
Thomas McNeil

Thomas H. McNeil, 68, died peacefully on Thursday, September 24, 2020, following a fearless battle with esophageal cancer.

Thom was born on October 9, 1951, at the Clark Field AFB in the Philippine Islands, the son of Thomas and Janet (Rose) McNeil. He graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1969 and attended Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. Following college, Thom served in the U.S. Army. He had retired from the Lake Champlain Transportation Co., where he was an engineer. Thom always enjoyed maintaining his property and was passionate about caring for his beloved pets, who were also a big part of his family, as well as working in his beautiful vegetable gardens.

He is survived by his brothers Christopher and his wife, Camille, of Worthington, Ohio; Brian and his wife, Judy, of Loxahatchee, Fla.; and Michael and his wife, Jill, of Easton, Conn. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Backer of Delaware; Erin and her husband, George Herring, of Norwalk, Conn.; and Laurie and her husband, Jac Citera, of Greenport, N.Y.; as well as many nieces and nephews; and his former wife, Annie Hemmingway. In addition to his father, Thom was predeceased by his mother, Janet McNeil, and sister Anne McLauglin.

At Thom’s request, memorials in his memory may be made to Franklin County Animal Rescue, 30 Sunset Meadows, St. Albans, VT 05478 or to the Chittenden County Humane Society, 142 Kindness Ct., South Burlington, VT 05403. A time to celebrate Thom’s life was held on Sunday morning, September 27, 2020, at the Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton. For those who’d wish, online condolences may be made to minorfh.com.

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Tags: Obituaries