SACO- Alvin “Al” Neill, age 81 passed away peacefully on January 21, 2021 from heart disease at his home, surrounded by his family.
He was born in Medford, MA on January 26, 1939, the only child of John Henry Neill and Sadie Margaret MacKenzie Neill. He grew up in Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School in 1957, and went on to attend Bentley College, where he received his degree in accounting. Al proudly served in the Army Reserves. Al married the love of his life, Judith Grieco in 1961.
He raised his family in Medford, MA before moving to Saco Maine to follow in his father’s footsteps of building houses.
Al spent his childhood summers on Prince Edward Island where he grew a love for horses. You would often find Al hanging at the Charlottetown race track with the his uncles and cousins. He loved the thrill of harness racing and went on to own his own horses which he raced at Scarborough Downs, ME.
Al loved Boston sports especially his beloved Red Sox and Patriots. He never thought he would see a World Series or Super Bowl in his lifetime, never mind multiple championships! He passed on his love of Boston Sports to his children and grandsons.
Nothing made Al happier than spending his vacations in Disney World with this entire family and introducing friends to the Disney Magic.
Al enjoyed telling everyone a good joke, making them laugh and smile and would never miss the opportunity to be the master of ceremonies at many family gatherings. Al loved hanging with his closest friends from grade school, Richard Adams and Stephen Strong. They all moved to Maine and still loved getting together with their wives to relive the good ol’ days. Everyone knew that his one vice in his life was ice cream. He knew the best places to go from Massachusetts to PEI.
Above all else, Al was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was very proud of all of his children and grandchildren. In addition to his wife of 60 years, Al is survived by his children: David Neill and his wife, Sharon, Susan Lynch and her husband Andrew, Karen Hoppe and her husband, Kevin and Cindy Tulimieri and her husband Steve. He was known as Grampy to his grandchildren, Alex Neill, Ryan Schott, Jeffrey Schott, Jack Hoppe, Laura Lynch, Ava Tulimieri and Eliza Tulimieri.
Due to the pandemic, a celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Al’s memory to the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005 Boston MA 02241-7005 or https://www.heart.org.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com
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