Donald M. Neary

Donald Neary of Brookfield, CT passed away on March 6, 2017 at the age of 85 in the care of St. John Paul II Healthcare Center. Don was born in Buffalo, New York on June 30, 1931 to Martin and Doris Neary. He moved at a young age to Pearl River, NY. Don graduated High School in 1949 and married his high school sweetheart, Irma Veltidi in 1950. Don was interested in music and attended Julliard School of Music in NYC for the study of piano. Don was also interested in flying and received his pilot’s license in 1948. Don also had a great interest in cars and engines. After high school Don opened and ran his own automobile service station and garage for many years.

Don’s Interest in airplanes and flying overtook his interest in cars, so Don sold his service station and went to work for Monitair Company that worked on sensors and other devices used on aircrafts. Monitair was purchased by Rosemount Corporation, an aerospace division of Emerson Electric Company. Don was offered a position with Rosemount and moved his family to Wayzata, MN in 1970. Don was an aerospace engineer and chief pilot at Rosemount. His responsibilities included product conception, product testing, product sales and service. If a customer had an issue with a product, Don would take the plane, fly to your location and resolve your issue. While at Rosemount Don designed a device called the Angle of Attack and received a US patent for this device. The Angle of Attack is now called the Stall Warning System and is used on every aircraft worldwide. In 1977 Don was offered a position as the Northeast Regional Sales Manager for Rosemount. Don accepted the position and moved to Candlewood Isle in New Fairfield, CT. Don retired from Rosemount in 2005.

While living in New Fairfield, Don built and flew an experimental aircraft called a Very Easy. Don was also a charter member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and a member of the Quiet Birds Organization. Don was President of the Candlewood Isle Board of Directors and assisted in the efforts to build a new Candlewood Isle Clubhouse; also while living in New Fairfield, Don spent time with his four grandsons teaching each of them how to swim. He attended all of their sporting events on a weekly basis and established a unique relationship with each grandson.

In 2011 Don was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, by 2015 Don’s condition had greatly deteriorated and his wife Irma became his fulltime caregiver. The mental and physical effects of this disease became impossible for Irma and her family to care for Don on their own. Don then went to St. John Paul II Heath Care Center in Danbury, CT. Irma would like to thank everyone at the St. John Paul II Health Care Center for the care they gave to Don and the kindness and goodwill towards his family.

Don is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Irma Neary, his daughter Donna Reynolds and her spouse Warren, his daughter Mardette Neary and her fiancé Robert Corcoran, his son Michael Neary and his spouse Janet. Don is also survived by his 4 grandsons Ryan Reynolds, Jesse Reynolds, Anthony Reynolds and his spouse Ruth, and Sam Reynolds, his 3 great-grandchildren Nicholas Reynolds, Elizabeth Reynolds, Bridget Reynolds, and also his half-brother Martin (Marty) Neary.

Family and friends are encouraged to call at the Green Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Danbury, CT on Saturday, March 11, 2017 from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Donations can be made to St. John Paul II Center, 33 Lincoln Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810 (indicate “Homestead Unit” on check memo line). For online condolences please visit our website at www.thegreenfuneralhome.com.