Neil Munro Gow, of Sutton, passed away on Wednesday, September 9, 2015, at Mass General Hospital, Boston. Neil was born in West Hills, Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of the late David and Mary Jean (Munro) Gow.
He is survived by his loving wife of the last 16 years, Hanna Solska; three sons, Neil Gow and his wife Joan-Beth, David Gow and his wife Renee, and Peter Paszkowski and his wife Jennifer; two daughters Susan Ferguson and Catherine Paszkowska; a brother David Gow and his wife Barbara; his nine grandchildren, Patrick, Ian, Samuel, Camran, Simone, Rebecca, Rachel, Bella, and Ania; his two nephews Callum Gow and Burgess Gow and his wife Jeanine; his grandniece Kay Anne; his brothers-in-law, Richard Solski, Jan Jaroszewicz, and Paul Solski; and his uncle Tom Munro.
Neil was raised in Scotland, attending Gordon's College in Aberdeen and having served his apprenticeship as a carpenter. He spent the majority of his working career involved with the trade show exhibit building business, first with Technical Display in the 60's, then Innovations, Inc in the 70's and early 80's before starting Scotia Woodworking with his brother David. The business was very successful and was sold in the 90's when Neil retired.
Neil was an accomplished piper, having first started to learn the bagpipes from his grandfather, Hugh Munro, a pipe sergeant of the Gordon Highlanders and then from George Cruickshank, a pipe major of the Gordon Highlanders. Neil went on to play for the Bucksburn & District Pipe Band in the early 60's and was then recruited and sponsored for his US Green Card by the Worcester Kiltie Pipe Band, an organization founded in Worcester, MA in 1916. Playing for Worcester, the band won five Grade 1 North American Championships and became the first non-Scottish based band to win a Scottish Highland Games contest having defeated the reigning world champions at Lesmahagow in 1969. Neil became the instructor for what at the time was the fledgling Worcester Fire Department Band, taking over for a former band mate, William McGuiness, who had started tutoring the fire department. Neil went on to lead the fire department through the streets of Worcester and to the Centrum for the memorial service of the beloved Worcester 6. Soon after, Neil took over the reins of the Worcester Kiltie Pipe Band as the pipe major, bringing on board many of the students he had been tutoring. Neil continued to tutor students in the art of piping right up until he died.
During his retirement Neil took up golf and bored all but the other golfers with his long stories of hurdles faced on the course. Neil also enjoyed hosting international visitors with his wife at their home for the Clark University International Center of Worcester as well as also traveling internationally to visit friends and family in places such as Poland, Russia, France, Switzerland, Scotland, etc.
There are no calling hours. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. At Neil's request, his ashes will be scattered in Scotland. The family has entrusted Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester with the arrangements. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence in the online guestbook, please click link below.