It is with deep sadness that the family of James (Jim) Gerard MacNeil announce his passing. He was the son of Walter and the late Florence (Campbell) MacNeil and was born during the worst storm of the year on February 13th, 1965 at St. Rita’s Hospital in Sydney. Growing up, he split his time between Sydney and Grand Narrows, where he developed his love of the outdoors, enjoying exploring, fishing, hunting, swimming, and dirt biking.
He graduated from Sydney Academy in 1983, and after a brief period at St. Francis Xavier University graduated from the Sydney City Hospital School for Nursing in 1989. He was then promptly recruited, moving to the United States where he became an Intensive Care Nurse at the Stamford Hospital in Stamford, Connecticut. In later years he would recall with fondness his frequent trips into New York City, often playing host and tour-guide to visiting friends and family. Here he also developed a deep and indefatigable support for the New York Jets, his fandom never wavering despite many, many less-than-stellar seasons.
After over a decade in Connecticut, in 2000 he returned to his beloved Cape Breton, continuing to work for many years in Intensive Care at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. He cared deeply for his patients, and often the responsibility and obligation he felt for them would stay with him long after he left the hospital. He was almost always accompanied by one of his cherished dogs; first Epi, who came back with him from Connecticut, and more recently the happy-go-lucky Brutus.
He is survived by his father, Walter MacNeil (Sydney/Grand Narrows), and sister Janice (Bill) MacGregor (Dartmouth). He will be deeply missed by his many nieces and nephews, including William, Angus (Jessi), Sarah (Alex), Emily (John), Sheumas (Elly), Michael, Calum, and Rory, "adopted" nephew Lucas Hyslop and his grandniece Eilidh, in addition to his many cousins, especially Patrick (Malia) MacNeil, Melinda MacNeil, Ronald MacNeil, Janet McCabe, Mary Elizabeth (Campbell) Kaiser, and many more members of his extended family.
Jim was always a big, boisterous, physical presence, with a big heart, and he cared deeply – for his family, his friends, his dogs, and his home. He will be profoundly missed.
Visitation will take place Thursday july 20, 2023 from 4:00-8:00 pm at St. Columba Parish Hall, Iona. A funeral mass will be held 11:00 am Friday July 21, 2023, at St Columba Church, Iona interment will take place at St. Barra Parish Cemetery. Reception to follow at St. Columba Parish Hall, when we who loved him can all come together to laugh, cry, share stories, and honour our beloved son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. To share memories and condolences please visit www.twcurry.com. Donations in his memory can be made to the Christmas Island (St. Barra's) Graveyard Fund, as well as to the Nova Scotia SPCA.
