Memorial Service for Dr. Richard (Dick) Neville

Dick Neville was one of the few people I knew at UMBC well before I came to the university. In fact, he and Nita Barbour, in Education, hired my wife, Jackie, to teach courses involving preparation of teachers, many of whom were going to be working in Baltimore City. I recall Jackie's commenting several times about her interesting conversations with Dick, and also how decent a man he was. I personally remember in the late 1970s being impressed by his commitment to children, especially children from underprivileged circumstances. So when I moved to UMBC in 1987, it was not surprising to me that Dick would be such a great colleague.

What did surprise me, though, was how much of a force he was on this campus, and how he combined his deep passion for his work here with extraordinary skills in diplomacy. It was hard to believe that someone who worked with so many departments and personalities and egos and agendas, and who could engage in such strong debate, could still be loved and respected by all. I believe he was so successful because he skillfully balanced solid thinking, compassion, and sincerity.

I will always remember the electric conversations between Dick and our former president and provost, the late Michael Hooker and Adam Yarmolinsky. Dick's commitment to UMBC often led him to become absolutely exasperated when he thought that some of us, who were new to the campus, simply didn't "get it" or didn't understand the culture of this institution and what was important here. It was his moral compass that led him to tell people the truth; it was his compassion for people that helped him craft language so they understood and accepted that truth.

One of Dick's greatest qualities was his deep humility. When he engaged in conversations, he was genuinely interested in the other person. He was a master at connecting to strangers. When he did talk about himself, he did so very humbly -- except when it came to sports! In fact, over the years, I couldn't help but notice that Dick's stories about his athletic prowess grew more glorious. Finally, I had to ask Richard Judd, president at the time of Central Connecticut State University, Dick's alma mater, about Dick Neville "the athlete." In fact, he confirmed with me that Dick was, indeed, a great athlete. So, it turns out that he was outstanding even in sports!

At the funeral, as I listened to Shannon, Barbara, and Richard talk about him, it was clear that he was the same person to all of them as he was to all of us. He was interested in us as individuals, and respectful of our strengths and weaknesses. He had the capacity to see "the good, the bad, and the ugly" in each of us -- and yet to love each of us precisely because we all have these human characteristics. I also was reminded of how deeply he loved his family, and how much they loved him. Over the years, in fact, whenever I saw his children or pictures of them, I always teased him about how strong the Neville genes are. But I know that it was because of the environment in the Neville home, with Dick and Roselyn, and not just because of those genes, that the Neville family reflects the values that Dick considered most significant -- a great thirst for learning and an abiding faith in the human spirit.

Since his retirement, I had a number of occasions to talk with him individually and to observe him in public settings. We were all so pleased for him when he found Florence -- she made him happy. What inspires me most, though, was his determination to live life to the fullest, as Shannon told us at the funeral. Until the end of his life, he was doing what he did best -- connecting to others in a substantive way, discussing the meaning of life itself. What else is there?

Dick was one of the strongest human beings I have ever known, in part because he was secure in his relations with family and colleagues -- and also in his faith. I can still see the glimmer in his eye, the hope in his face, and hear the quiver in his voice as he often recited the Irish blessing, which appears in today's program:

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of His hand.