John F. Neuman

1942 - 2011

John F. Neuman, 68, died unexpectedly on Feb. 20, 2011, after a short illness.

John was born April 3, 1942, in Helena, the eldest child of Dr. and Mrs. (Lee Riley) E.W. Neuman. He attended St. Helena's Grade School and Helena Cathedral High School, and graduated with honors in chemistry from Carroll College in Helena. John attended graduate school at Washington State University and spent his entire professional career as an analytical chemist.

He worked for the USDA laboratory in Wenatchee, Wash., and with private laboratories in Colorado. John moved to Bozeman in 1981 and found employment with the Montana Department of Agriculture laboratory, and later with the Montana State University's Fisheries Bioassay Laboratory. He was the long-time laboratory manager for the Center for BioFilm Engineering at MSU until he retired in 2009.

John was a mentor to students learning the science and art of analytical chemistry. He always was a strict disciplinarian for laboratory safety and the creation of high-quality data. He was respected by his peers, students and faculty at the BioFilm Center and by the other science and engineering departments at MSU.

John was an enthusiastic downhill skier, a racer in his early days, and a powder hound enjoying helicopter skiing in Canada and Wyoming. He climbed all the big peaks in Washington's Cascade Mountains. His summers were spent fishing on the Madison, Yellowstone and Gallatin rivers. His unique driftboat was a familiar sight and known to many fishers on these rivers from April through September.

John was a great teacher, whether explaining a calculus problem, showing how to cast a #16 dry fly to a rising fish with a delicate touch, or demonstrating smooth carved turns on the slopes of Bridger Bowl. He passed on his skills and knowledge to his friends and neighbors, and especially to his nephews and nieces. He was always the first to help and stayed to the last to make sure all turned out well. These traits were first learned as an altar boy, choirboy, and as an Eagle Scout. He was generous to a fault.

He will be remembered with affection for his intense love of life, his service to others, and his curmudgeon's wit.

He is survived by brothers, Edward and Dennis; sisters-in-law, Bernadette, Marilyn and Deborah; and brother-in-law, Stephen; his nieces and nephews, Jonathan, Alicia Lee, Katie, Matthew, Elizabeth and Paul; and Connolly cousins.

John was the special uncle, and he loved his nieces and nephews as though each was his very own, and they, like his whole family, loved him deeply.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Mary Helen Neuman Lane; his brother, Michael Neuman; dear aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial for John will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at Resurrection Parish in Bozeman, with a luncheon to follow.

Memorials in his name may be made to the Dr. E.W. Neuman Scholarship Foundation, Carroll College, Helena, MT; or to the Center for BioFilm Engineering at Montana State University.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com.