Neil Sheldon Buckholtz

1943 - 2025

May 11, 1943 - March 24, 2025

Neil S. Buckholtz of Potomac, Maryland died on March 24 after a brief illness. He is survived by Marjorie, his wife of nearly 60 years, and four children: Alison Buckholtz (Scott Moran), Charlie Buckholtz, Joshua Buckholtz (Ashley), and Hillary Buckholtz (Bill Kilby). He was the loving brother of Shelly, Howard (Eileen), and the late Anita Buckholtz, and the son of Leo and Arline Buckholtz of Cleveland, Ohio. He leaves behind adoring grandchildren Ethan and Estee Moran and Leo, Natasha, and Rafael Buckholtz, along with nine nieces and nephews.
Neil's long career as a scientific researcher began at the Medical University of South Carolina in 1971 and he began working at the National Institute of Mental Health in 1983. He rose to the position of Director, Division of Neuroscience, at the National Institute on Aging, where he led all federal research on Alzheimer's and other dementias of aging until his retirement in 2015. He remained active in the field of Alzheimer's research until his death. A fervent advocate for "Open Science," one of his most lasting legacies is ADNI, the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, a massive data-sharing initiative based on the idea that public research institutions and private pharmaceutical companies collaborate, rather than compete, in an effort to advance progress. ADNI was the first large-scale study that made all data available to the scientific community at large. It inspired many research breakthroughs and created a norm for sharing scientific data funded by the public. As a career civil servant and veteran of the Public Health Service, Neil was devoted to the public good and honored to work on behalf of the American people.
Although his passing is a profound loss, his example of a life well-lived will guide generations of his family, and made an impact that will last forever. A funeral will be held Friday, March 28 at 1 p.m. at Judean Memorial Gardens in Olney, Maryland.