BEVERLY: Joseph A. “Cookie” McNeil, Jr., 68, died unexpectedly Monday, December 14, 2009 at his home in Ruskin, Florida.
Born in Malden on December 8, 1941, he was the son of the late Joseph A. McNeil, Sr. and Mary G. (Rosano) McNeil. After completing his military service with the United States Marine Corps, Joe settled in Tewksbury where he started a successful contracting business. There he began building homes and developing subdivisions in both Tewksbury and Andover. The lovely cul-de-sac “McNeil Way” in Tewksbury bears his name. While there he was very active in the community. He was a member of the 4-H Club and served in a number of elected positions including serving as the Water Commissioner, on the Board of Selectmen and on the Finance Committee.
From there he moved on to Beverly in the 1980’s where he built several hundred homes. One of his proudest accomplishments was the renovation of the old raincoat factory on Rantoul Street into an apartment building. It was from the first floor of this building that he operated Atlantic Marine, a marine supply store, for many years. Continually looking to be challenged he went on to renovate and convert the Moose Hall at 75 Cabot Street into another fine apartment building.
His next challenge was in Provincetown. There he turned a dilapidated fish pier into a stylish New England marina and restaurant facility. He owned and operated Provincetown Yacht and Marine for several years before retiring to Florida in the early nineties. In retirement he enjoyed boating, fishing, and eating Key Lime Pie!
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Barbara M. and Larry Kelley of Beverly; his son and daughter-in-law, David and Wendy (Kelley) McNeil of Charlotte, NC; two grandchildren, Joseph McNeil, IV and Madison McNeil both of Charlotte, NC; a brother and sister-in-law, John C. and Christine McNeil of Malden; a sister, Mary Ann Maclean of Salem; his former spouse and her husband, who remained dear friends over the years, Gloria and Norm Lawler of Cambridge, Maine and two nieces and a nephew.
Joe McNeil will be greatly missed by his family and friends, and he will be forever remembered for changing the lives of those around him as well as the landscape of the communities in which he lived.
His funeral services will be held on Saturday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly at 12 noon. Visiting hours will be held on Saturday prior to the service from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in his memory to the American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02210. Interment will be held in the Forest Dale Cemetery, Malden.