In Memory of
Neal R. Montanus
June 5, 1926 - January 26, 2017
Obituary
Neal Robert Montanus, 90, of Boston,
Massachusetts died on January 26, 2017, after a long
illness.
Throughout his long life Neal Montanus was devoted to
his family, career, travel, reading, history, baseball,
the open road, beauty and nature. His passion for all
things maritime made time on the open water and at the
seashore a lifelong joy. He loved Cape Cod and visited
frequently. In later years he found great pleasure in
hosting his extended family for wonderful vacations in
Wellfleet, Massachusetts.
Neal had a keen intellect and love of learning. Reading
was his passion. History books were the key for him to
continuously hone an expansive worldview that he
articulated with deep insight. His great appreciation of
the English language and extensive vocabulary made him a
crossword puzzle enthusiast and an excellent Scrabble
player. He had a sharp wit and good sense of humor; puns
were his specialty. Neal loved the arts—especially
painting, sculpture and music. A visit to a fine arts
museum or an evening at a concert brought him deep joy.
Neal was born in Brooklyn, NY on June 5, 1926 and spent
his early childhood years there and in Southern
California. He joined the Navy in 1943, and after
completing Midshipmen’s School, shipped off to Guam. At
the end of the World War II, when he was only 19 years
old, Neal captained a transport ship with a crew of
thirty across the Pacific, eventually landing in
Charleston, South Carolina.
In 1947, after completing his college education at
Colgate University, Neal began a distinguished career at
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. His time
at the Port Authority proved to be one of the most
rewarding periods of his life. It was there that he had
the opportunity to serve and contribute to the city he
called home, working with colleagues whom he respected
and were like family to him.
At the age of 21, Neal was one of the first management
trainees at the Port Authority. Over the following years
he rose through the ranks, moving on to become the
Director of Rail Transportation, as well as Vice
President and General Manager of PATH from 1962-1966. He
then served as Deputy Director of Aviation and Director
of Aviation until 1973, when he left the staff to form
his own consulting firm. In 1976, Neal was among a group
of experts selected by the US Department of
Transportation to develop environmental guidelines for
airport projects throughout the United States. In 1978,
he was appointed the Port Authority’s Director of
Industrial Development. Neal retired from the Port
Authority in 1983.
When he was 22 Neal met the love of his life, Jean
Parlier, at a dance in New York City. After a brief
courtship they married in 1949, and soon after settled
on Long Island to raise two daughters. In 1958 Neal took
a leave of absence from the Port Authority to serve as a
US State Department Foreign Service officer, becoming
the Assistant to the Director of the American delegation
to the Brussels World’s Fair. In this position he
organized, prepared and operated the American
participation at the Fair. The family lived in Brussels
for a year and a half and traveled widely, returning to
Long Island in 1959. The time spent in Belgium turned
out to be one of the most memorable periods of Neal’s
life.
Not long after the birth of their third daughter in
1961, the family moved to Port Washington, New York,
settling into a home and community where Neal and Jean
raised their daughters and made lifelong friends. The
neighborhood was close to Manhasset Bay, and it was
there that Neal spent many a happy hour sailing his
small sailboat, Flippant.
In 1968, Neal’s life was profoundly altered when Jean
was injured in a skiing accident. The next few years
proved to be challenging as Jean suffered complications
from the accident. Neal met this challenge with grace,
always striving to find the best medical care for Jean
while continuing to meet the demands of his
high-pressure career and caring for his family. Neal was
a devoted husband and father; his wife and family meant
the world to him.
In 1986, Neal and Jean moved from Long Island to a
condominium in Fort Lee, New Jersey, to live closer to
their beloved New York City. At the same time, they
purchased a 100-year old country home overlooking the
Housatonic River in Falls Village, Connecticut, where
they enjoyed hosting family gatherings. The family
spent many an afternoon together at this gracious home
relaxing on the cozy front porch, chatting and reading,
while games of croquet and whiffle ball were played
between the two ancient maple trees on the front lawn.
Those wonderful times created a legacy of sweet memories
that will live on in the family for generations.
In 1992, Neal and Jean, both lifelong New Yorkers, moved
to Brookline, Massachusetts, to be close to their adult
children and grandchildren. It was at this time that
Neal began a gradual transformation from a fan of New
York sports teams into a Boston Red Sox and New England
Patriots fan. Neal loved to share his love and knowledge
of sports, and in doing so inspired many in the family
to be lifelong fans.
In his later years Neal’s love for the open road found
him heading out for a day’s drive to a destination that
beckoned to him, returning in the evening after a
satisfying day of exploration. Always open to new
discovery, whether on the open road, open water, or
opening a new history book, Neal’s love of learning was
a life-long pursuit.
Neal Robert Montanus was a man of great integrity,
always determining to do what was right and honorable.
His highest ideals, his North Star, always guided his
way as he encountered the twists and turns, challenges,
and joys of his life. An inspiration to all who knew him
and loved him, Neal will be deeply missed.
Neal is survived by 3 daughters; Valerie Montanus of
Jamaica Plain, MA, Kim Lishansky of Concord, MA and Lisa
Montanus of Woodstock, NY; six grandchildren, and two
great-grandchildren. His wife, Jean, predeceased him in
June, 2009.
Donations can be made to the Southern Poverty Law
Center.
https://www.splcenter.org/
