Neal Thomas Amarino

Neal was born March 23, 1936 and grew up in North Brunswick, and Seaside Park New Jersey and changed address to Heaven May 18, 2024. He was preceded in death by his son, Neal Thomas John Amarino, Jr; parents, John Amarino and Rosina Tenerelli Amarino, brother, John Thomas Amarino, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Martha Ann Peterman Amarino; daughter, Susan Ruth Amarino, son-in-law James Martin Grant and grand-Dog, Samson.

As an outdoor enthusiast, Neal expanded his life guarding, in which he saved the most lives of any lifeguard, to swimming competitively at Utah State University. He earned a scholarship for the butterfly at Utah State and held records for many years. His swimming expertise benefited Susan with her swim team at The Ranch Country Club.

His arm and shoulder strength gained from the beach life made him a strong amateur builder for projects at home. For example, Neal built a barn, a pool house, and multiple other useful items.

Neal pledged Sigma Phi Epsilon, Fraternity where he earned a BS Degree at Utah State University and was a veteran of the United States Army. He played hockey, hunted, and fished. Neal, an expert skier, taught his daughter and wife to ski. Neal earned free skiing by packing the mountains. Because he was creative and determined to play hockey, as a kid, he made his own pond by leveling snow and watering the surface.

Neal’s professional life included: Layman for Letters Printing CO, Frontier Airlines, Johns Manville, Vipont Pharmaceutical Inc., Russell Karsh & Hagen and Liaison Multilingual Services, Inc.

While at Frontier Airlines, Neal excelled and enjoyed many adventures. Some of his favorites consisted of Canyon Lands, opening various airports, a secret trip with Lady Bird Johnson to Saint Simion and Neal’s role in the Frontier’s One-Shot Antelope Hunt. The Governor of Colorado and other dignitaries gathered for a high-spirited weekend. Our family enjoyed the fruits of Neal’s work and play. We ate salami for a year. Neal and Martha Ann were among the first to board the famous Concord in England.

At Johns Manville, Neal won the Silver Anvil Award for a top US public relations/crisis communication endeavor involving the famous fire in Colorado foothills.

June 13, 1964, in Davis, Oklahoma, First Baptist Church, Neal married Martha Ann. Her parents fell in love with Neal. Pappy, Martha Ann’s dad and Neal hunted and fished in Oklahoma and Colorado. Neal entertained Martha Ann’s Mom’s Tuesday Study club with a slide show presentation of his trips to Europe. The women became friends with Neal, a Yankee, and accepted him as their own.

Neal served for 10 years as President and an active member of the Bal Swan Board. Bal Swan Children’s Center offered preschool education for challenged and typical children. Our son, Neal, Jr, was challenged and attended Bal Swan for 15yrs. He attended Bal Swan the longest of any child. Neal and Martha Ann looked everywhere in Colorado for an appropriate school for precious Nealy. Finally, we met Marlene Putnam, at a cottage school, later to become Bal Swan. The cottage met all expectations for Nealy’s school. Susan would attend Boulder Valley Schools. All matched. So, we moved to Broomfield, CO in 1972.

Martha Ann, Neal’s wife of 60 years, will try to make Neal proud, until we meet again.

Pray for our family. God bless us all.