Robert Joseph Neville, age 85, of Olde Salem Village, died peacefully at the Kaplan Family Hospice House on Monday, March 9, 2020. Born on August 20, 1934, in Manhattan, NY, Bob was the son of the late Eugene Thomas and Marion Theresa (O’Neill) Neville. After a brief stay in Philadelphia, the family moved to Larchmont, NY and were members of the Larchmont Yacht Club for many years. Bob attended Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, NY and graduated from the College of the Holy Cross, class of 1956, in Worcester, MA. His first job after graduation was with the advertising agency Fuller & Smith & Ross in NYC. Bob enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1957 and was stationed at Parris Island in Beaufort, NC, where he practiced his writing skills as a reporter for “The Boot” newspaper. He was delighted that several of his feature articles were picked up by major southern newspapers. After his honorable discharge in 1963, he returned to his advertising career, working for the Singer Company in NYC. On a return trip home from a Florida vacation, Bob met his future wife, the stewardess on that particular flight. Bob and Georgette Agganis of Hamilton, MA married in 1963, and following a honeymoon in Hawaii settled in NYC. A little over a year into his master’s program at PACE college in Manhattan, Bob received an incredible offer from the Polaroid Corporation in Cambridge, MA, and opted to take advantage of that opportunity. Bob joined Polaroid in 1967 as Sales Promotion Manager, where he won a Clio award for one of his commercials. He later became European Advertising Manager, based in Amsterdam, and he and his family settled in Osdorp, Netherlands. Bob and his family traveled all over Europe during that two-year period. After his promotion to Advertising Manager of the Middle East, Bob’s travels expanded to world-wide destinations. Bob returned to the United States with his wife, two daughters, and the family German Shephard dog to the home they built in Manchester By-the-Sea, where they enjoyed living for over 30 years. In addition to his loving wife of over 56 years, Bob is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Neville of Merrimac, MA, and Michele (Neville) Beckley of Haverhill, MA, and two grandsons, Andrew and Tommy Beckley. Bob is also survived by his younger brother Charles Kevin and his wife Patricia Neville of Estero, FL, and their daughter Megan; a sister-in-law Caroline “Mike” Neville of Old Saybrook, CT, and her children Carolyn, and her husband Stephen Freese, Kevin, and his wife Lisa Neville, and Sharon, and her husband Michael Ferencsik, grand nieces and nephews, and a lifelong friend F.M. “Pete” and wife Bari Taylor, of New Canaan, CT. He was pre-deceased by his older brother Eugene O’Neill Neville of Old Saybrook, CT. Bob was a kind, loving husband and father and was very proud of his daughters. He will be remembered for his famous flaming Irish coffees, entertaining stories of his many travels, his hilarious dry sense of humor, and stories of youthful adventures with Pete.
Respecting Bob’s wishes, a private family gathering to celebrate his life will be held at a later date. Bob’s family would like to thank the Care Dimensions support system of doctors, nurses, and health aids for helping to care for Bob. They especially wish to thank the compassionate staff of Kaplan Family Hospice House. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Bob’s memory to the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.
