HARRY MATTHEW NEFF

HARRY MATTHEW NEFF, passed away Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 in Naples, Fla. Born July 25, 1950 in Fort Wayne, Ind., he was oldest son of Betty and the late Jack Neff. Harry attended Central High School in Indianapolis and went on to receive a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and an MBA from Indiana University. He started his professional career in 1975 in Fort Wayne as a bank loan officer, where he met his wife of 35 years, the late Marie nee Guertin, before entering the family business, Neff Engineering two years later. In 2000 Harry joined the other family business, PHD, Inc, as Director of Sales and Marketing and eventually became CEO of the company. While juggling his business life, he also focused on his family, proudly watching his son Matt become a highly successful business owner and his daughter, Nicole, and son-in-law Ernie IV, raise his grandchildren, Ernie and Alex, who meant the world to him. Most people are lucky to find true love once in their life but Harry fell in love and married a beautiful woman named Barbara on Oct. 1, 2016. Both being retired, they enjoyed cooking together, playing golf, watching sunsets at the beach, sporting events, especially his beloved Colts and IU, and traveling. Their time together was cut way too short. Barb brought so much joy to his life as well as his family members. Husband of Barbara nee Chiesa; father of daughter, Nicole (Ernest Lebo IV) Lebo, and son, Matthew Neff; proud grandpa of Ernest V and Alexandria; brother of Virginia Neff, John (Liz), Dan (Sally) and Jim (Julia); as well as uncle to many nieces and nephews. Harry will be missed by many friends, family members and business associates. Service is 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017 at Hodges Funeral Home, 525 111th N, Naples, Fla., with visitation starting at 9:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to GI Oncology, MD Anderson, PO Box 4486, Houston (TX 77120) (please put "GI Oncology" on the check); School of Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, (NY 14850), or The Cornea Research Foundation of America, 9002 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis (IN 46260).