John Francis “Jack” McNeil was born June 26, 1932, in Red Bank and passed away Dec. 10, 2023. He was raised by his parents, John and Bertha, and his beloved older sister Eileen.
Jack lived his entire life in the Red Bank area. He attended St. James Elementary School and Red Bank Catholic High School. He then attended Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City where he received his Bachelor of Science in marketing in 1954.
He had a long career in the life insurance industry working for Marsh and McLennan, John Hancock, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Donald Smith Associates and Union Labor Life Insurance Company. After his retirement, Jack worked for Arrow Limousine, John Zollner class rings and Realty Appraisal Company.
Jack enjoyed sports all of his life. He became a passionate fan of the Knicks, Mets and New York Giants. He played football, basketball and baseball and lettered in all three sports for the RBC Caseys. He continued his love of sports by playing softball with Sal’s Tavern, The Knights of Columbus and The Tribe of Little Silver. Jack also developed a fondness for golf and enjoyed playing with his friends at local county courses. He traveled with members of the Little Silver Fire Department for yearly golf trips to Florida.
Jack’s greatest loves were his beloved wife of 53 years and his four children. Jack met his wife Carol Ann Dempsey in Avon-by-the-Sea in the summer of 1960. They were married in Brooklyn the following year. Jack and Carol settled in Red Bank and moved into his family home on Madison Avenue. Eventually, they moved to Little Silver to raise their children in a wonderful neighborhood where they met many people who would remain lifelong friends.
After 24 years, Jack and Carol moved to Kimberly Woods in Oceanport where they met a new circle of friends. He loved his time living in Kimberly Woods; he and Carol treasured socializing with friends and entertaining their children at the community pool. After his wife’s passing, Jack moved to Eatontown.
Jack was active in coaching his children in basketball at St. James Elementary and baseball at the fields in Little Silver. His greatest coaching accomplishment was taking the Mighty Cougars to an unlikely Cap League Championship, his daughter and his youngest son playing together on that team. Jack supported his children in their activities at Red Bank Regional. He became a Buccaneer fan, attending many school events throughout the years.
He was a proud father when three of his children married and he eventually became a Pop Pop to his beloved grandchildren. Of course, he would follow them in their endeavors and in sports. He attended many games in Delaware and at Shore Regional, becoming a Blue Devil fan. Jack was a very involved grandfather who spent a lot of time supporting and cheering on his grandchildren in all that they did.
Jack will be remembered for his friendliness, his kindness and his sense of humor. He formed many bonds in Red Bank, Little Silver and beyond. He was a social member of the Little Silver Fire Department. Jack was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Briody Bunch. He loved spending time at Surfrider Beach Club and then Peninsula House Beach Club in Sea Bright. He always enjoyed watching his children compete on the clubs’ swim teams.
Jack loved traveling with family and friends, including to Florida, California and Las Vegas. His most memorable trip was a 2011 vacation to Ireland. Jack enjoyed the Emerald Isle for his 50th anniversary with his wife and two of his children.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses, aides and staff at Imperial Healthcare for their fine care of Jack during his final year.
Jack was predeceased by his wife Carol, his parents John and Bertha McNeil, his sister Eileen Linzmayer, his nephew Frank Linzmayer Jr., and his brother-in-law Richard Dempsey. He is survived by his children, John Jr., Susan Altomare and husband Leonard, Mary Beth Durham and husband Edward, Christopher and wife Jeanine; grandchildren, Andrew, Matthew and Jake Altomare, Zachary Durham and wife Morgan, Courtney and Rachel Durham, Christopher McNeil II, Erann Dutton and husband Bradley; great-grandson Bradley Dutton Jr.; brother-in-law Frank Linzmayer; sister-in-law Shirley Dempsey; his nephew RJ Dempsey and nieces Eileen Murphy and Cheri Drake; as well as many cousins.
Visitation was held Dec. 20 at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Dec. 21 at St. James Church, Red Bank. Burial followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
Memorial donations may be made in Jack’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org) or to Family and Children’s Service, 191 Bath Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740 (fcsmonmouth.org).
This article originally appeared in the January 4 – 10, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
