Neal Bruce Greenfield

Neal Bruce Greenfield - In Don Quixote are the words "Until death it is all life". No one understood this better than Neal, 80, who was suddenly taken from us on the same day as his daughter, Kimberly Karsen, on Sunday, November 27, 2022, in Des Plaines, IL. Neal never took his life for granted and he lived every day with energy and wonder. Neal was raised in Hyde Park and West Rogers Park in Chicago. He graduated from Sullivan High School in Chicago, the University of Illinois, Champaign in 1964, where he was a member of Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity, and later earned his JD degree. He lived in Los Angeles and San Francisco for 20+ years before returning to Skokie, IL to raise his daughter Kimberly as a single dad, supported by family and friends. He was a partner in two Meineke Car Care Centers in Chicago and Evanston for 15 years, and retired after the businesses were sold. Despite his responsibilities, Neal always had time for adventure, friends, and family. After Law School, Neal sailed down the Mississippi River with lifelong friends, lived the "Summer of Love" in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco, attended the "Last Waltz" with The Band, owned a San Francisco bar named Sydney Ducks in the 70's, ran marathons across America, pursued his scuba diving interest all over the world, and rode his BMW 1100 GS motorcycle for 100,000 miles across the U.S. and Europe. Everywhere he lived, worked and traveled, Neal made and sustained life-long friendships. His enthusiasm, curiosity and wonder at life was infectious. He read voraciously and loved long discussions over coffee or a slow meal. Most importantly Neal was a loving and devoted dad, brother, uncle, and friend. He showed everyone what it means to be a very good man and the best of friends. He is survived by his sisters Judith Bolotin (Richard) and Deborah Greenfield, niece Jodi Sherman and her husband Marc, and their children Sam, Adam, Lainie and Lilly Sherman; nephew Dr. Gregg Bolotin and his wife Lorrine, and their children Charlie, Cameron, Alexandra and Liam. He is also mourned by his sweetie of 12 years, Mary Kay Barkley McCaw. He was preceded in death by his parents Lillian and David, and, brother-in-law Bill Telesmanic. Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on Sunday, December 18, 11am - 2pm, where we will be sharing our memories at 11:15, at Ravinia Green Country Club, 1200 Saunders Rd, Riverwoods, IL, (847) 945-6200. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to honor Neal and his love of books and learning at Skokie Public Library, Attn: Administration, In Memory of Neal Greenfield, 5215 Oakton Street, Skokie, IL 60077, or (847)673-7774. Donations can also be made to North Shore Senior Center, Development Dept.,161 Northfield Rd, Northfield, IL 60093, and note that your donation is "In Memory of Neal Greenfield". For any questions, call The Cremation Society of Illinois at (847) 577-6505, or express your thoughts and condolences at www.cremation-society.com.