Neil was born in Brooklyn, NY, to Anna Lafferty McLaughlin and Charles McLaughlin on October 14,1939. He attended St. Teresa of Avila in Brooklyn (through the 8th grade) and then went to St. Joseph’s Juniorate for three years before finishing his senior year of H.S. at St. Augustine in Brooklyn, NY, in 1958. Neil took great pride in being an Iona Gael (New Rochelle, NY), attending college there as a history major and having a standout basketball career, graduating in 1962. He later received his Master’s Degree from Stony Brook University, NY, in 1974. He met and fell in love with Mary Keavney in 1960 and after proposing to her in Farragut Pool with a simple “Will you marry me?,” the two were married September 15,1962 at St. Matthew’s Church in Brooklyn, NY. Neil and Mary started their family in Brooklyn, but after five years relocated to Centereach, Long Island, where they raised their family and lived for 37 years.
Upon graduating from college, Neil took a job as an insurance salesman for two years. He absolutely hated it. He could not stand being stuck behind a desk. He found his passion when he began his longtime teaching and coaching careers at Holy Family H.S. on Long Island as a history teacher, driver’s education teacher and basketball coach for seven years. He then transferred to teaching and coaching public school at Longwood School District, also on Long Island, as both a physical education and driver’s education teacher. His career as the beloved “Big Mac” (because his K-2 students could not manage “McLaughlin”) began at Charles E. Walters Elementary School teaching physical education. He taught for more than 32 years and held many varsity and junior varsity coaching positions at Longwood H.S. during that time. He finished his teaching career at Longwood Middle School.
Neil was an active member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (Selden, NY) and a 3rd Degree Knight.
Neil was predeceased by his parents as well as his brother Charles McLaughlin.
He is survived by the love of his life and cherished wife of 61 years Mary C. McLaughlin, sons Neil P. McLaughlin (Kim), Sean C. McLaughlin (Stacy), and Kevin M. McLaughlin (Jackie), and daughters Kathleen A. Ford (Michael) and AnnMarie Caraher (Bill). Known to his eleven adored grandchildren as “Poppy Mack”, he leaves a lasting and loving memory with Ryan McLaughlin, Conor McLaughlin, Colin Ford, Liam Ford, Cara McLaughlin, Aidan Ford, Kelly Ford, Christian McLaughlin, Quinn McLaughlin, Braedi Caraher, and Keily Caraher. Neil is also survived by his sister Margaret Eales and brother Artie (Lucille). He also leaves behind a beloved extended family of in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was a teller of stories and jokes (always funny and sometimes inappropriate), a giver of Hess trucks, folded twenty-dollar-bills (particularly if you were in college and poor) and scratch-offs, a supporter of his country, his college, his heritage (Go Donegal!), but most of all, his family. His pride was evident and he championed each of his kids and grandkids paths and accomplishments, ultimately just wanting us to all be happy.
He knew how to project his voice. This may sound like an understatement if you knew him. But you have to appreciate that he spent his entire career making sure he was heard by 40+ elementary-age kids in a gymnasium and while coaching basketball, lacrosse, tennis and any other sport in which his AD asked for his help. He had two volumes: Irish whisper and booming. He loved to attend the sporting events of his grandkids, wait for a lull in the crowd, and then yell out their name at top volume. He also did this at graduation ceremonies. The reaction was always an immediate turn toward the crowd by his grandson/granddaughter and an instant recognition and smile at exactly where the shoutout had come from. He was the only one who could get away with it.
Neil was a devoted Catholic. He enjoyed reading and watching movies about history and spent many a vacation with Mary walking battlefields in the U.S. When they both finally retired and bought a home in Clearwater, FL, they were active members of the Irish American Club, attending concerts and dances, walking the boardwalk and pier, watching sunsets and receiving visits from their grandchildren. All while still spending most of their time up north so they didn’t miss any holidays with family. Overall his most favorite pastimes included anything and everything to do with his family and especially his grandkids.
The family will receive friends from 4 - 7 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2024, at Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT.
A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 520 Ridgebury Road, Ridgefield, CT.
Committal service to follow at Saint Peter Catholic Cemetery, 71 Lake Ave. Extension, Danbury, CT.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to either of the two charities Neil was most passionate about: Tunnel to Towers Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Direct donation links are provided below.
https://dogood.t2t.org/give
https://www.stjude.org/donate
