Cornelius “Neil” J. Boyle, age 79, passed peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, February 5, 2021 in New Castle, Delaware.
Born in Kingston, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1941 to Joseph and Evelyn (Rogers) Boyle. Neil was a devout Catholic who attended Westside Central Catholic School in his youth and continued his higher education at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he played football and received a degree in History and English.
United in holy matrimony to Mary Louise Petro on August 8, 1964, Neil was a devoted “spirited” husband. He began his professional life in education, teaching first in Edison, NJ and then moving on to a career with the DuPont Corporation in Seaford, Delaware. He quickly climbed the ladder to a management position at DuPont with assignments in Newark, DE, Melbourne, Australia and Chattanooga, TN, eventually retiring in 1999.
A jolly, sometimes ‘corny’ man (his name was Cornelius, after all), Neil always aimed to make people laugh…family, friends, and strangers alike. Described as “the life of the party”, “a rock”, “a legend”, “a father figure to many”, and a “consummate harmless flirt,” Neil and his heroic humor will be sorely missed.
A football fanatic, Neil was often heard saying “football is my life”. A wicked card player who wasn’t above a shady move, his laughter was a boisterous one when you were lucky enough to catch him cheating. His door was always open, and when asked what he wanted for a present, he always replied “for you to be happy kid”.
Neil is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Boyle and his three children; Lynne Boyle Trafton, Barbara Boyle Tobler, and Neil Boyle. He was a loving grandfather to his seven grandchildren; Corrine Morris, Colin Megnin, Christine Vargas, Sky Tobler, Devyn Boyle, Ryan Boyle and Ashlynne Trafton. He is also survived by his “best friend”, his brother Joseph Boyle.
A Mass of Christian Burial and a celebration of life will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.