Mark Andrew Neel

Feb 8, 2018 at 4:45 am, we lost our the youngest brother, Mark Andrew Neel 8/21/67 - 2/7/18. Mark suffered from an extremely rare condition, Hyper IgE (Job’s Syndrome), which presented itself as severe asthma and a host of accompanying symptoms and side effects of the drugs that worked to keep him alive. He spent much of his adult life in pain and out of breath. He would often say, "I would rather live like this, then the alternative." We never heard him complain. Never. Not one time. He was a character. Highly intelligent, uniquely curious about the natural world and, perhaps, slightly obsessed with the wholly UN-natural world. (Ask the childhood dolls of our youngest sister about their dismemberment, special effects dressings and subsequent appearance in more than one All Hallow’s Eve haunted house). We are in shock. We knew Mark had outlived his life expectancy. But, frankly, every time we visited and asked how he was doing, his joke was always “They haven’t killed me yet!” followed by a chuckle. Indeed, Mark cheated death more times than we can count over the last couple of decades. So much so that, yes, we are in shock. But we are also grateful. Whatever behind the scenes machinations, direct dealings with the underworld, or potions brewing in the woodshed he had going on, we are grateful he managed to hang around these last several years. And, we are extraordinarily grateful that in the last couple of weeks he enjoyed our monthly family dinner, he attended a concert with his brother Danny, was taken out shooting with some old family friends; Brian and Allan, and just 5 days ago, jammed with his old band buddies Corey, Banjo and Kelly. Last summer, he and Lacey K ventured to Oregon as the Solar System celebrated his 50th birthday with the FIRST EVER Solar Eclipse with a path of totality traversing the United States. Twenty years ago, we couldn’t have imagined this would be. Mother Nature was cruel to his body, but not his spirit. And, when it was finally his time, she took him quickly. For this, we are grateful. May you be free from pain and hitching a ride with Dad and Finnigan on that Tesla orbiting the sun. “Flights of Angels” dear brother. But there’s no resting for you. We expect you’re busy exploring the secrets of the universe. Please, no spoilers. Save them for when we meet again... Grief never ends, but it changes. It's a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith... It is the price of love. Mark was preceded in death by his father, John Michael Neel and sister, Shannon Lee Neel. Mark is survived by his loving mother, Diane Neel, significant other, Lacy Katyryniuk, brothers: Mike (Lisamae) Neel, Danny Neel of Nipomo, Ca., sisters: Kristen (Randy) Roberts of Huntington Beach, Ca., Kerry (Chris May) of Jackson Heights, NY; nieces: Kanani, Kamaile, Juls Neel and Alanna Tufuga-Neel of Nipomo, Ca., Shannon and Kennedy May of Jackson Heights, NY and nephews: Michael Neel of Valley Village, Ca., and Glen Tufuga-Neel of Orcutt, Ca., his Aunts Sharon McCullough and Sherry Neild of Stoneham, Ma.

Mark Andrew Neel

August 21, 1967 - February 7, 2018