Dr. Neal Joseph Prendergast

Dr. Neal Joseph Prendergast passed away on February 15, 2016 after a long beautiful adventuresome life. He was born on October 12, 1937 in Baltimore, Maryland where he spent the first 18 years of his life. Tales of the war years when his father was away in the Pacific, the wonder years at Camp Deerwood, Mt Washington Lacrosse and Loyola High School were always enjoyed at the dinner table. At the age of 18 he boarded a train for South Bend, Indiana where he spent the next 4 years pursuing his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana where he graduated in 1959 cum laude. He headed back home for a few years where he met his wife and earned his Doctor of Medicine degree in 1963 at the University of Maryland Medical School. Following in his father’s footsteps and supporting his new family, he joined the Navy where he served as a General Medical Officer and finished his Residency and Fellowship training in Hematology/Oncology at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. After 9 years of training, traveling, adventure and achieving the rank of Commander, he resigned his commission in the Navy and took his skills into private practice. In keeping with his adventuresome spirit he moved his family away from the big city to the beautiful River town of Gallipolis, Ohio where he served the people at Holzer Medical Center and Clinic for 12 years and raised his boys to appreciate the outdoors. From there his journey took him further west to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he would practice medicine for another 25 years at Southwest Medical. He also served as Medical Director of the Family Home Health Hospices including Nathan Adelson Hospice, the place where he spent his last peaceful days. Throughout his journey he always exemplified excellence in the most quiet and discreet way. His love of life, family, work and his respect for simple things like honesty and integrity impacted all those around him. He was preceded in death by his father Judge John Gilbert Prendergast; his mother, Helen McHugh Prendergast; and his brother, John Gilbert Prendergast, Jr. (Jack). He is survived by his loving wife Mary Joy Arnold Prendergast, his 3 children Neal (wife Mimi) Pat (wife, Lori) And Gerry (wife, Cindy), his 7 grandchildren, Kyle, Nick, Dillon, Julianne, Megan, Joe, Sean, and his brother, Peter; sisters Mary Mayer and Mary Lou Prendergast and nine nieces and nephews. We will miss his wisdom, his humor, his kindness and his love. So to you Dad, we say, “Let the road rise up to meet you, and until we meet again, let God hold you in the palm of His hand.” There will be a Memorial Visitation in his honor on Friday, February 19th at 4:00pm at Palm South Jones Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. The family has request to send donations to the charity of your choice or Nathan Adelson Hospice Las Vegas.