David Dixon McNeish

McNEISH, David Dixon Of South Natick, formerly of Wellesley Hills and Weston, passed away on Saturday morning, August 22nd, at the age of 84. Mr. McNeish was the son of John Duncan McNeish and Evelyn Woodbury McNeish, and the beloved husband of Carola Comer McNeish. After graduating from Wellesley High School, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served in the Naval Air Corps from 1943 to 1945. Mr. McNeish was a graduate of Amherst College, where he was an outstanding baseball player, receiving his Bachelor's degree in 1949. His talent led to his playing 2nd base in the Red Sox farm league. He started his career in the investment business with the Boston firms of Schirmer, Atherton and then Burgess and Leith, where he became a partner. In 1966, Mr. McNeish started his own investment firm of Breck, McNeish, and Nagle with partners John Breck and Garrett Nagle, purchasing a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. After de-regulation of the brokerage industry in 1975, he moved into the area of venture capital, specializing in funding innovative companies in the medical field, including the first commercial kidney dialysis firm, National Medical Care, and the blood technology firm Haemonetics. In 1961, Mr. McNeish co-founded the internationally renowned resort hotel Curtain Bluff in Antigua, West Indies with his friend and partner, Sir Howard Hulford. Mr. McNeish also served a number of terms on the Wellesley School Committee, and was its Chairman during the 1960's. An avid and accomplished golfer, Mr. McNeish was a member of the Wellesley Country Club and the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda, where he owned a home for many years. He was a member of the New England Seniors and the Hickory Shafts golf associations. He was the recipient in 2001, of the Donald M. Puffer golfing award. Mr. McNeish initiated a program 15 years ago to bring bluebirds back to the Wellesley Country Club golf course. The bluebird population had been in serious decline due to habitat loss and the increase in predators. As a result of his efforts, club members purchased over 50 bluebird houses, many with plaques honoring friends and family members, and there is now a healthy year-round regeneration of the bluebird flock. David was the dear husband of Carola McNeish, with whom he shared 59 years of travel, adventure, and a zest for life. A devoted father and grandfather, he leaves David D. McNeish, Jr. and his wife Jade, Douglas S. McNeish, Alexandra Buck and her husband Paul, Carola Morgan McNeish, and Diantha Lachlan McManus and her husband Patrick. Also his cherished grandchildren Nathaniel Benjamin Buck, Andrew Blackburn Buck, Martin David McNeish, Ixchel Carola McNeish, and Liam C. McNeish Butler. A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 28th at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in David's name to The U.A.F. Irene F. Comer Scholarship Fund, College of Fine Arts, University of Arizona, PO Box 210004, Tucson, AZ 85721 or to The Amherst College Alumni Fund, Amherst College, PO Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000. J.S. Waterman & Sons & Waring Wellesley 781 235-4110 www.jswaterman.com