Neil Whitney Vanik

Dr. Neil Whitney Vanik passed from life to LIFE, surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday evening June 11, 2025, at Assisted Living Well in Millersville, Maryland. He was born July 15, 1958, in Baltimore, son of the late Milton Charles Vanik and Arnette Elizabeth Vanik.

Neil grew up in Severna Park in Fairwinds on the Severn, often enjoying fishing off the dock and enduring long hot summer days on a Boston Whaler with his dad and sister to procure crabs for a feast. He later enjoyed taking his own family "mudlarking" for crabs and clamming with hand tongs - or "idiot sticks", as he dubbed them. He loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter, enjoying deer hunting trips to Maryland's Eastern Shore, and a yearly hunting trip to Quebec, ostensibly to hunt moose. He was blessed to be able to take each of his sons twice, proudly bringing home grouse, fish, and once a black bear. Moose were lucky enough to avoid a trip to our table, being more boring to hunt.

Neil waited tables through dental school at Middleton Tavern, observing he could pay for dental school (a necessary evil) and enjoy some social interaction at the same time (made difficult by the lack of time from aforesaid evil). His servant heart, razor sharp wit, evident kindness and mad tableside serving skills earned him the title "Dr. Foster". This fond moniker paid homage to his masterful and flaming preparation of a classic New Orleans dessert - bananas foster.

Neil carried this amalgamation of skill, wit, humor and kindness into his dental career, serving the Annapolis community with empathy, skill and integrity. There is still not a day that goes by in the office without patients asking after him and recounting his faithful care of them.

Neil delighted in summer trips to Maine, playing badminton, hiking (mostly for Stacey, as Neil always preferred to have something to show at the end of the day. Why just walk when you can hunt and gather??) and boiling lobsters at least once a day. He was blessed to eventually welcome daughter-in-love Adeline (John's) and then daughter-in-love Faith (Paul's), and we all treasure those times together with gratitude.

Neil had a curious intelligent mind, kind heart, and disarming sense of humor. He possessed a patience in teaching keenly missed by all who knew him.

Neil was preceded in death by his precious sister, Susan Melanie Shoop and parents, Milton Charles Vanik and Arnette Elizabeth Vanik.

He is survived by his beloved bride of 39 years, Stacey Ann Vanik; son, John Milton Vanik and wife Adeline Chakraborty Vanik; son, Paul David Vanik and wife Faith Charissa Vanik; grandchildren Lukas David Vanik and Ocean Alice Vanik (John and Adeline); grandson Felix William Vanik (Paul and Faith).

A celebration of Neil's life and the unfailing love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - God with us, Emmanuel - will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Saturday June 21, 2025, at the Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, Maryland. There will be a reception immediately following in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to support research for Corticobasal degeneration (CBD) at CurePSP by visiting www.psp.org.