NEAL JOSEPH DEAN

1923 - 2016

ELK GROVE VILLAGE - Family and friends of Neal Joseph Dean, 92, a resident of Elk Grove Village since 1998, formerly of Northfield for 35 years, will gather for a Mass of Christian Burial Monday, August 1, 2016 at 10:30am at St. Julian Eymard Catholic Church, 601 Biesterfield Rd., Elk Grove Village, proceeding to interment at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines. Born Oct. 1, 1923 in Troy, NY to the late Frederick and the late Catherine (nee Roarke), he passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by family on July 28, 2016 in Elk Grove Village. Neal received his BEE degree from Manhattan College in 1944, MS degree from Columbia University in 1946 and went on to pursue Ph.D. studies at both MIT and Harvard University. In 1952 he married the former Margaret (Peggi) Mary McGuirk. After teaching Electrical Engineering at Columbia for several years, Neal went on to a successful career in international business consulting first with Booz, Allen & Hamilton and later on his own. Throughout his life Neal travelled the world at first for business, later volunteering for the International Executive Service Corp and in his later years became an ardent cruise line aficionado. Always a brilliant, quirky man and a keen observer of cultures, Neal was a much appreciated meal and travel companion for friends and family. A lover of music, history and film he was a fixture in his local library until his final days. Neal is survived by daughter Patrice (Dr. Edward) Diamond, daughter Stephanie (Thomas) Liles and son Brian; fond grandfather of Jennifer (AJ) Acosta, Laura Diamond, Steven Liles and Madison and Charles; dear brother of the late Marion Kelly and Virginia Waffner. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Peggy Mary (nee McGuirk) in 1998. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer's Foundation at www.alzfdn.org or to the charity of your choice in Neal's name. For information, please call 847-891-2900 or to sign the virtual guestbook please visit www.michaelsfunerals.com.