Dean E. Neal, M.D. the devoted, caring, and compassionate eye doctor who was still seeing his patients through 52 years of service, unexpectedly passed away from a stroke on Saturday, May 23, 2015. Dean was born in Tryon, Nebraska on May 31, 1934 to parents Charles B. Neal and Mildred C. Neal. He is survived by his wife Sharon, sons Eric, Greg, and Tony, daughter Sylvia, and 10 active darling grandchildren. Dean is also survived by his brothers Tom Neal, M.D., Stan Neal, M.D., sister Beverly Neal, daughters-in-law Teresa Neal and Natalia Neal, and sisters-in-law Nancy Neal and Elaine Neal, and many nieces and nephews.
Dean’s life was a legacy of big dreams. He had a combination of Irish wit, a German side driven with a deep work ethic, and some Native American Indian, which truly made him a warrior. He fought to the very end always believing that wherever he went it was with the Grace of God leading the way.
His family moved to Oregon in 1943 and settled in Milwaukie where he attended Battin Grade School, Milwaukie Junior High, and then Milwaukie High School class of ’51 where he graduated Valedictorian. He went on to Oregon State with a scholarship in Engineering and was one of the 6 top students, which earned him a summer job working on the construction of the Banfield Freeway. His interest then shifted to medicine and he attended OHSU medical school where he graduated in 1959. He went on to complete his internship and residency in Ophthalmology at Los Angeles County Hospital.
He and his great friend Russ Stodd, M.D. were the visionaries for The East Portland Eye Clinic where his dream for great delivery of eye care became a driving force and then a reality when in 1968 he opened a beautiful clinic, which was architecturally designed specifically for ophthalmology. Dean made sure to equip the clinic with then state-of-the-art technology, which included a Wang Computer System. The computer was a behemoth, cranking out lots of noise and heat, but Dean always insisted on having the latest and greatest equipment for taking care of his patients.
The U.S. Army called him to service during the Vietnam War, where he was stationed at Madigan Hospital Base in Washington. After his service in the military was completed, he returned to his private practice in Portland. His career in Ophthalmology continued throughout his entire life. In the past decade, he has been practicing at the Gresham office he constructed in 1975, where he has been enjoying every day of practice along with his supportive and loving staff, Michele, Mary Jean, Jamie, Dr. Jung, and Ginger. He felt blessed by their presence.
He was a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, The Multnomah Athletic Club, and the Golden Masters. He contributed to and loved the St. Joseph's Indian School for Chamberlain, South Dakota.
Dean will be celebrated at the church he loved,
Lake Grove Presbyterian Church
4040 Sunset Dr, Lake Oswego, OR 97035
on Saturday, June 27th 2015
at 11:00 a.m.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.8.18