Arthur Harry Neill, Jr.

Obituary of Arthur Harry Neill JrMarch 4, 1946 - July 26, 2016 Art was born March 4, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico, the son of Arthur H. Neill Sr. (of Rock Island, Ill.) and Josefina Ramery de Toro (of Ponce, Puerto Rico). His first language was Spanish. After moving to various locations in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and New York, the Neills settled in Kensington, MD in the mid-1950’s. Art’s engineer father built various devices to help Art learn to walk after a birth injury caused him to have cerebral palsy. His mother’s steadfast advocacy ensured he would not be excluded from a quality education. He took advantage of his opportunities at Holy Redeemer, Georgetown Prep, and Georgetown University, and earned a Physics degree. He loved to play the piano, and sang at many weddings as a young man. He spent a great deal of time as a child learning about electronics, building radios, and putting together model airplanes and ships. After college Art worked as a Physicist for the Bureau of Standards where he performed research on early laser technologies. After a move to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), Art worked to reduce splash and spray related accidents from heavy trucks, and was awarded the NHTSA Administrator’s Superior Achievement award as well as the Federal Handicapped Employee of the Year honor. He also helped develop the national tire grading system and performed extensive research in Daytona, Florida and College Station, Texas to improve safety through tire traction. Additionally, Art worked on efforts to reduce accidents and injury due to vehicle rollover. In the early 1980’s, Art, along with friend and colleague John Hinch, invented and patented an electric wheelchair carrier, based on a design he invented for his personal use. Art married Sharon Leigh Rich May 27,1972. They were married for 44 years, and had two children, Art and Wendy. Art enjoyed helping his kids win science fairs, spending time with his grandkids, perfecting his audio & video systems, setting up his LGB trains, enjoying his pet birds and cats, using computers and the internet to connect with family and friends,and visiting Daytona Beach with his family. He loved music, including the Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, the Beatles, and Johnny Cash. When he retired in 1996, Art became an accomplished investor and regularly taught English to individuals across the world via the Internet, including people from Brazil, China, and the Philippines. A few of these individuals came to visit Art over the last decade.He was an ingenious, persistent, and loving man. Though he could not stand, he lifted all who knew him.Art passed away in his home in Davidsonville, Maryland at 10:00am on July 26, 2016. At the moment he passed, he was held by his wife and children.Dad, Daddy, Papa, Grandpa, Art, Neill, Mr. Neill, Hijo, Nene TodavíaWe will miss you. Rest in peace and know that we will always remember you.