Joseph Francis Neary

Joseph F. Neary of Mill Valley passed away peacefully on October 25, 2022, following a courageous struggle with multiple health issues. Joe, a contemporary Marin artist, whose brushes translated to canvas the many moods of America’s land, sea and sky, was 87. Joseph left us just 3 days after toasting and celebrating his oldest granddaughter Laura, on the occasion of her marriage.

Joe was born in New York City on August 18, 1935, first child to Francis and Evelyn Neary.

Joe spent his early years in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey where he spent time with his paternal and maternal grandparents and attended St. Agnes School. It was on the shores of the East Coast where he began his lifelong admiration of the ocean and all it had to offer. At the age of ten, his family settled permanently in Monterey, California, where his father was assigned to the Naval Air Station.

Joe attended San Carlos Grammar School and Monterey Union High School graduating in 1953. While in high school, Joe played football, was captain of the varsity swim team, and excelled in sketching and drawing. While attending Monterey Peninsula College, he ranked 11th nationwide in the 1500-meter freestyle at 22.46.8, just shy of All American JC recognition by 2.5 seconds. He went on to study electrical engineering at Fresno and San Jose State Universities as well as Art at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Joe later moved north and settled in Sausalito where he began painting the ocean, sailboats, and serene landscapes of Marin.

In 1964 he married Marcia (Bunny) Howard, a schoolteacher who taught in Mill Valley and Novato. Together they raised two children Holly and Joseph. Holly and Joe were often figures in their father’s paintings and traveled with him to transport his paintings to various buyers and galleries. In 1968, he and Marcia moved to Stinson Beach and opened a restaurant (The Red Whale). It was here that the Pacific Ocean, the beach, and the surrounding hills created the perfect place to paint seascapes and landscapes. While running the restaurant, Joe learned many cooking skills from his staff and went on to share his love of cooking with anyone that needed a meal and a few good Irish stories to go with it. A few years later, Joe taught still life and seascape painting under the City of Novato Adult Art Education program. It was at this time he also developed Troller Corporation in which he invented a deep-sea fishing device and patented the product for market.

Early one morning in September 1969, Joe’s sailing and lifelong swimming skills were put into action. It was barely dawn and Joe was sailing with 3 crew members and owners of the “Santana” sailboat, Charlie and Marty Peet.

The quick observation of a faint flashlight in the distance placed Joe and the crew of the Santana on full rescue mode. Once the Santana crew approached the sinking boat, they found five men, all bartenders, clinging to 4 life jackets. The five men had set out three hours earlier en route to Los Angeles and just outside the Golden Gate their boat had sunk under them. Joe retold the story never missing a detail.

He proudly displayed his framed “Thank You” plaque signed by all 5 of the rescued men.

In 1975, Joe opened “The Gallery” in downtown Novato with Don and Maureen DeGeller. Custom framing and paintings were completed on site and offered Joe an opportunity to display and sell his works. In 1979, Joe captured the hearts of wine lovers and critics alike with his painting of “Sea-Wolf at the Lighthouse” for Kenwood Vineyards. Kenwood used the painting as the wine label for their Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon 1979 release.

Later, Joe went on to obtain his California real estate and brokerage licenses and worked for Davis Realty selling commercial listings in Marin.

In 1977, Joe met Margaret Hagan, his life partner for 45 years. Together they often entertained friends and traveled to the East Coast to visit family in Florida and Pennsylvania. Joe and Margaret also enjoyed skiing, cruising the Caribbean, preparing Michelin-Star meals for all, and making frequent trips to Monterey to visit Joe’s mother, Evelyn, who lived to be 96. In his later years, Joe joined the Marin Bocce Federation. He and Margaret played weekly on the team “Fiamme Verdi.” Always watching the ball and making sure the measurements were accurate, Joe was quick to shout, “Measure It!” in order to end the debate.

To know Joe was to love him. His dry sense of humor and political banter were sure to put a smile on your face. “Grandpa Joe’s” quick wit, knowledge of Marin’s history, and his ability to share his passion for painting with his children and grandchildren will be forever cherished and remembered.

Joseph leaves behind Margaret Hagan, Daughter, Holly (Joe) Hass, Son, Joseph (Jamie Stymus) Neary, Grandchildren: Laura (Joe) Trombetta, Olivia Hass, Joseph Hass, Aubrey Neary, Caitlin Neary, and Patrick Neary.

Joseph is survived by his Sister, Colleen (Larry) Bettiga, Cousins Frank (Elly) Koretic of Florida, Gloria Douglas and Linda Koretic of South Carolina, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Joseph was preceded in death by his parents Francis and Evelyn Neary, Sister Janet and Brother-in-law Gerald Bordges, Brother William Neary, and Sister Josephine Neary.

A funeral mass will be held on November 17, 2022 at 10:30 am at Our Lady of Loretto Church in Novato.

Donations in Joe’s memory may be made to marinarts.org or marinbocce.org.