Neil Lloyd Watson

Neil Lloyd WATSON Neil Lloyd Watson passed away at the age of 81 on January 13, 2012 in Waianae, Hawaii. Born on November 27, 1930 in Issaquah, Washington, to Agnes and Lloyd Watson, Neil was raised in logging camps near Black Diamond and Renton, Washington. After graduating from Renton High School, he entered the United States Army and served as a Paratrooper. Neil worked at Holmes Electric in Renton as an electrician for 20 years until he moved to Hawaii in 1989. He supervised installation of the first electronic security system at the Honolulu Airport. Neil loved the good weather and warm ocean temperatures in Hawaii, which was quite a change from Washington State, and he spent much of his spare time scuba diving around the islands. Scuba became his passion and he spent many years traveling around the world visiting remote diving destinations. Neil was one of the first Americans granted permission by the Soviet Union to dive in Lake Baikal, the world's oldest and deepest lake. He was also one of the first divers to explore the Bikini Atoll in 1996, when it was declared safe from atomic radiation after being off limits due to nuclear testing for more than 50 years. Neil's favorite time of the day was dusk, when he would sit on his lanai contemplating the day and planning his projects while watching his beautiful goldfish swim in the pond. Neil is survived by Jackie Watson, to whom he was married for 20 years. After 20 years apart they rekindled their relationship and Jackie was at Neil's side at the end of his life. He has three step-daughters, Sandra Koplowitz, Linda Young and Diana Hoyem. He was a loving father to his girls who are left with many fond and humorous memories of their second Dad. Neil is also survived by his brother, Stan, his sister, Carol and their families. He has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Neil's family would like to thank all of the kind people of Bristol Hospice of Hawaii who helped care for Neil during the last few months of his life. As per his wishes, Neil's body was sent to the University of Hawaii for study and his ashes will be spread in the ocean he loved so dearly. Photos of Neil's life can be seen online at http://koplowitz.net/Neil/index.htm.