Neal Wilson

WILSON, Neal Lowe Neal Lowe Wilson was born December 17, 1943 in Spokane, WA. He was son of the late Roy D. and Hedra H. Wilson. Neal was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving from 1963-1965 as a radar acquisition repairman at the Nike missile site in Fort Bliss, TX. On the advice of his family physician, he attended the Providence Hospital School of X-ray Technology in Seattle, WA. He graduated in 1968, specializing in interventional radiology as a radiologic technician. He was accepted at Duke University into the Physician Assistant program in 1970, graduating in 1972. He returned to Seattle and served at Providence Medical Center as a Radiology PA. He was soon named Radiology Administrator, serving in that capacity for 21 years. In 1994, the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville invited Neal to be Radiology Administrator for both the Clinic and St. Luke's Hospital (then Mayo). He worked with the physicians and staff for the next 11 years, bringing state-of-the-art radiography to the Clinic. Under his leadership, Mayo became among the first medical institutions to adopt filmless radiology. Neal never lost sight of medicine's true goal: placing patient needs and their emotional well-being first. In 1997, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, which eventually led to his retirement in 2005. Neal extended his kind, caring and generous nature to everyone he met. His generosity was only out measured by the enormity of his heart. Neal felt deeply and genuinely, and took pride in caring for his family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Judy, son Christopher of Sammamish, WA, daughter Pamela and husband Joseph Ehrbar of Edmonds, WA, son Erik and wife Kristina of Jacksonville, FL, son Gregory of Los Angeles, CA, two grandchildren, Danielle Wilson of Sammamish, WA and Joey R. Ehrbar IV of Edmonds, WA, as well as his brother Thomas D. Wilson and wife Doris of Lamona, WA. He has many nieces, nephews and cousins, innumerable colleagues and friends and will be missed both personally and professionally. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in honor of Neal L. Wilson to the Mayo Clinic for Parkinson's Disease Research. Please direct donations to Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 4500 San Pablo Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32225. A memorial service honoring Neal will be held Thursday, August 27, at 7 p.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 545 A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Reception to follow. A service in Seattle will be held at later date. Please sign the online guestbook at www.pontevedravalley.com.