BRUCE G. MCNEILL

McNEILL, Bruce G. Of Brookline, MA, passed away, on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, after a short illness, at the age of 85. He died at home surrounded by his family and loved ones. Bruce was the devoted father of his two children, Savanna Jabro and Philip McNeill; and formed a close relationship with Savanna's husband, Don and Philip's wife, Kate. He was also the beloved grandfather of Charlotte, Emmeline, Graham and Anna; and had a very special love and bond with his niece, Taylor Huxtable. Bruce is predeceased by his parents, Vincent and Dorothy McNeill; and his five brothers, Vincent, Lawrence, Ronald, Theodore, and Richard McNeill. Bruce was born in 1938 in Boston, MA, and grew up in West Roxbury. Bruce proudly rose to the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and graduated from Northeastern University before serving as a lieutenant in the Signal Corps at Fort Devens, during his two years of active duty with the army. Following his military service, he graduated from Harvard Law School and spent nearly all of his career with the firm Tarlow Breed Hart & Rogers, P.C. Bruce spent decades teaching at New England School of Law. He always said being able to teach and get to know his students at NESL was his favorite job and a career honor. Bruce married Jayne Huxtable in 1973, and together they raised Savanna and Philip until their divorce over a decade later. Those who knew Bruce knew how much he loved his children, and during their teenage years, he did his best to keep Savanna and Philip humble in lots of unpredictable and mischievous ways. He was also well-versed in practical jokes, a favorite involved gluing silver dollars to the sidewalk and street in their neighborhood and watching in delight from afar with his grandchildren, as unsuspecting passers-by tried in vain to pick them up. Bruce was an avid reader, particularly of World War II books, and also loved classical music, the theatre and watching movies; he was the first in his neighborhood to bring home a VCR. Bruce lived with Savanna and her family for many years, reveling in his daily duties as grampy. He greatly enjoyed walking Charlotte, Emmeline, and Graham to school and taking them to various special shows and events. Each evening he would call his grandchildren over to watch the sunset from the living room window with him. He was a constant source of love and support for all four of his grandchildren. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Mabila Barbosa and Luisa Scodino. They helped care for Bruce until the very end with compassion and respect. They loved him, and he loved them in return. Bruce was a one of a kind, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Visiting Hours in the William J. Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre Street, WEST ROXBURY, on Friday, April 21, from 4-7pm. Funeral from the funeral home on Saturday, April 22, at 9:30 am, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Theresa Church at 10 :30am. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask you to consider a donation to a cancer charity of your choice or an Alzheimer's charity of your choice. For directions and guestbook gormleyfuneral.com William J. Gormley Funeral Service 617-323-8600