Neil McDade

Neil McDade passed away December 21, 2011, at the age of 77 in the presence of his family. His parents, Cornelius and Agnes; and his two sisters, May and Anne, preceded him in death. Neil was born in Glasgow, Scotland May 27, 1934. Neil was baptized Episcopalian at St. Margaret's Church in Glasgow. In 1947, when Neil was 13 years old, he boarded the Mauritania and sailed through rough seas to New York City, where Neil remembered seeing the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. Neil graduated high school in June 1950 at the young age of 16. In 1953, Roanoke College's soccer coach scouted Neil and offered him an athletic and academic scholarship. Neil was named All-American in 1953 and All-South in both 1953 and 1954. He would later be admitted to the Roanoke College Hall of Fame. In 1967 Neil received his United States citizenship. From 1957 to 1978 Neil worked in computers for global companies such as Prudential, Chrysler, Citi Bank and Mobil Oil. During those years, Neil lived in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, Japan, Kuwait, Venezuela, Switzerland and the United States. Because of his love for the Roanoke Valley, Neil returned to the United States and Roanoke in August 1978 with Heinke and their two children, Ian, 5, and David, 2. Neil coached little league soccer and was known as "Coach McDade" by dozens of children in the Roanoke Valley. In 1985, Neil and Heinke opened McDade Travel and were thus able to fully enjoy their favorite hobby of international travel. Neil escorted clients and friends on numerous golf trips to Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and France for over 20 years.
His wife of 40 years, Heinke, his five children, Michael, Virginia, Pamela, Ian and David, and his six granddaughters, Paula, Rebecca, Rachel, Wynne, Scout and Mary Clare, survive Neil. Family, friends, clients, and employees will fondly remember him. Neil has had a wonderful life and wishes his ashes to return to his beloved country of birth, Scotland. Neil's family will accept friends and family at Oakey's Roanoke Chapel Friday, December 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 29, at St. John's Episcopal Church. Condolences can be made at www.oakeys.com. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel.