Neil Macy

Neil Macy, loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away on January 11 at Caleb-Hitchcock Hospital at Duncaster in Bloomfield. Born in Worcester, October 26, 1924, the son of Nathan (Macewitzski) and Lillian (Kaplan) Macy, he had been a long term resident of Hartford and Bloomfield. Neil served in the U.S. Army under General Patton and fought in France, Germany and Belgium, receiving a battlefield promotion to Sergeant. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, in Bastogne, and completed his army service in December 1945. After his army service, Neil resumed his interrupted university education. He graduated from Central Connecticut State University (B.A.), the Teachers College at Columbia University (M.A.) and Nova University (Ed.D.), and earned a 6th Year Certificate in Educational Administration from the University of Hartford. Neil was an educator and mentor in spirit and soul, not merely by profession. He taught for many years in the Harford Public Schools (1948-50: Hartford Public High School; 1950-59: Northeast Junior High School; 1959-68: Bulkeley High School) and served from 1968-1976 as Administrator for Personnel and Labor Relations and Assistant Superintendent of the Hartford Public Schools. From 1976-1994 Neil served as a Visiting Professor in the School of Education at the University of Connecticut and mentored numerous doctoral students, many of whom continued to keep in touch with him and to rely on his advice and mentoring throughout their careers. Dr. Macy also served for many years as the coordinator of and a professor in a Nova University Ed.D. program, and here too he mentored numerous students. Neil lectured throughout the country on Labor Relations in Education and was the recipient of a number of teaching awards, including the Distinguished Professor of the Year (1985) of the National Academy For School Executives, of the American Academy of School Administrators. His practical involvement in educational labor relations included his work as a consultant to over 20 boards of education in Connecticut and to boards of Education in New Hampshire, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Arizona and Nevada. He also served as a consultant for the departments of education in Connecticut, Alabama and Tennessee. In addition, he served for over 20 years as the Labor Relations consultant for the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees and for a number of years represented the Chancellor of Higher Education in Nevada. Neil served for 10 years on the Connecticut Civil Rights Commission and for 6 years was its co-chairman. He also served from 1991-1994 on the United States Commission on Civil Rights. Neil treated all with equality and human dignity and he was a partner, with his wife Erma, in efforts to improve the lives of those with disabilities. He gave freely of his time to all who were in need, particularly if he felt that they suffered from injustice or prejudice. Neil was an active member of the Emanuel Synagogue, West Hartford, and taught 10th grade (Confirmation Class) for many years in the Synagogue’s religious school. In addition, he was a frequent member of the educational boards of the Emanuel Synagogue and the Greater Hartford Jewish Federation. Neil’s lifelong devotion to family, friends and to those in need of assistance serves as an inspiration to all who knew him. He was a devoted partner to Erma, his wife of over 62 years, who passed away 3 months ago, and encouraged and assisted her to live an active, non-disabled life, despite the fact that she suffered from Multiple Sclerosis for the last 40 years of her life. He was a supportive father to his two children, Dr. Jeffrey Macy and Sheri Macy, to his daughter-in-law Rachel Macy and son-in-law Chuck Fors, and a caring and loving grandfather to Daphne and Noa Macy, his two granddaughters. The family would like to give special thanks to Carol Mortenson and the staff of the Caleb-Hitchcock Hospital; to Neil’s physicians: Dr. Robert Dicks, Dr. Timothy Curley and Dr. Pat Corcoran, who were supportive, professional and treated him as a friend and not merely a patient; and to the devoted staff of Duncaster, the community that was home to Neil and Erma Macy during their last 4 years. Funeral Services will be held in the Main Sanctuary of the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, on Thursday, January 14, at 11:00 A.M. Rabbi Philip Lazowski, Cantor Sanford Cohen and Mr. Moshe Pinchover will officiate. The funeral preparations and arrangements are under the direction of the Weinstein Mortuary. Interment Service follows at the Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery, 1361 Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Dr. Neil and Erma Macy Accessibility Fund at the Emanuel Synagogue, to Caleb-Hitchcock Hospital at Duncaster, or to a charity of the donor?s choice. The family will observe a memorial period at the home of Neil Macy at Duncaster, 40 Loeffler Road, Apt. TN 426, Bloomfield, on Thursday, after the interment until 8:00 P.M., on Friday from 10:00 A.M. until 2:30 P.M., on Saturday from 6:00-9:30 P.M., and on Sunday from 11:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. A Minyan will be held Thursday and Sunday at 4:30 P.M. The remainder of the memorial period will be held in Israel at the home of Dr. Jeff Macy. For further information, directions, or to sign the guestbook for Neil, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com