Richard J. McNeil, 76, of Rochester, passed away on May 7, 2025, at Tobey Hospital in Wareham. He was the much-loved husband of Ingrid A. (Hill) McNeil and the son of the late Richard J. and Leocadia (Sypek) McNeil.
He was born in Boston and had lived in Rochester since 1981. He graduated from B.C. High School and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Babson College. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy Reserves for over 20 years retiring as a Commander. He was also a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.
During his years at Tufts, he was an active participant in the Newman Center where he formed many dear friendships and met the love of his life, Ingrid. They married in 1972 and began a life together that saw them journey from Beverly to South Dartmouth and finally to Rochester where they settled down in 1981. While always dedicated to his work as an IT Specialist working in Hospital Systems, most recently at Southcoast Hospital Group, his joy and strength came from his love and service to his faith and family. When he wasn’t taking a well-deserved nap or enjoying a slice of sausage and mushroom pizza, he was an excellent teacher and doer, spending much of his free time tinkering, repairing and finding the most effective and efficient way to get things done, ensuring his children had what they needed to grow and thrive. He relished time he got to spend with his grandchildren and they, in turn, always appreciated the drawer full of snacks he kept stocked for their visits. Rich loved and served the parish family of St. Rose of Lima Church. He sang in the choir, cut watermelons for the annual cookout, (when he wasn’t single-handedly providing the mobile kissing booth), kept the kids in line during catechism and served faithfully on the parish council. But most of all he loved his family.
Survivors include his wife, Ingrid A. (Hill) McNeil; two sons, Richard J. McNeil and his wife, Tracy and Thomas F. McNeil; and a daughter, Heidi McNeany and her husband Brian, all of Rochester; his brothers and sisters: Robert McNeil of Stoughton, Christopher McNeil of Norwell, Gregory McNeil of Foxboro, Mary Perry of Westboro, and Nancy Hamel of Mansfield; three grandchildren: Geoffrey McNeil and Cora and Owen McNeany; as well as fifteen nephews and nieces.
We are deeply grateful to the doctors, nurses and staff at Tobey Hospital for their care and support.
His funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at St. Rose of Lima Church, 282 Vaughn Hill Rd., Rochester. Burial will follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Isidore Parish, 340 Center St., Middleboro, MA 02346 or at: https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/saintisidore
