David L. McNeill, M.D.

David Lee McNeill, M.D., age 88, passed away on February 24, 2020. A native of Covington and resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, Dr. McNeill was born on November 4, 1931 to the late Rev. Daniel Archibald McNeill and Sara Elizabeth Tegg McNeill.

Dr. McNeill is survived by his wife of 22 years, Linda Paradise McNeill; his daughter, Jennie-Lynn McNeill Campbell (husband Stephen Campbell), his son, Ronald David McNeill (April); step daughters: Karen Freese (husband Doug Freese), Missy Schulz (husband John), Gretchen Riddle (husband Mark) and Jennifer Coats (husband Jon); grandchildren: Sara Anderson (husband Josh), Senior Chief Will Davis (wife Christina) , Krys Mixon (husband Phillip), Tiffani Naccari Bush (husband Aaron), Keith John-David Naccari, Brittani Naccari Farrell (husband Frankie), Brooke McNeill Beard (husband Bryan) and Courtney McNeill ; step grandchildren: Paul Freese, Ashley Freese, Madeline Freese, Annika Shulz, Isaac Riddle, Ellarose Riddle, Jonathan Hayne; great-grandchildren: Willy Davis, Kati Davis, Gini Davis, Alivia Anderson, PR Mixon, Brinley Bush, Bailyn Bush and Colston Farrell; step great grandchild Mya Brennan; his sisters, Dr. Margaret Anne Goldstein, Dorothy McNeill Koomey (husband Calvin) and Evelyn Koudal; and many cousins, family members and special friends.

Dr. McNeill is preceded in death by his first wife of 42 years, Virginia Howard McNeill; his daughter, Sharon Elizabeth McNeill Davis; son-in-law, Bill Davis; a granddaughter, Kathryn Marie “Kati” Davis; stepson Frank Hayne; sisters, Nellie Elizabeth McNeill Sanders and Katherine Inez McNeill Lineweber; and his two brothers, George Edward McNeill and John Archie McNeill.

Dr. McNeill earned his bachelor’s degree from Centre College of Kentucky in 1953 and received his medical degree from Baylor University College of Medicine in 1958. Dr. McNeill also trained at University of Mississippi, Jackson Medical Center, Tulane Medical School Ophthalmology and Charity Hospital during his residency. In 2008, Dr. McNeill was honored for 50 years of practicing medicine at New Orleans Country Club. He held numerous hospital appointments, 1959-1962 6510th USAF Hospital, Edwards AFB, CA Flight Test Center, Flight Surgeon, 1961-1962 Chief of Aviation Medicine, Edwards AFB, 1962-1965 Charity Hospital, Tulane Resident, 1965-1966 Terrebonne General Hospital, 1965-1975 EENT Hospital, 1975-1996 Jo Ellen Smith Memorial Hospital, Chairman, Utilization Review Committee Chief of Surgery, 1996-2000 Meadowcrest General Hospital and from 2000-2004 at Meadowcrest Emeritus Staff. From 2004 until his retirement in June of 2012, he was also a member of the faculty at Medical Center Louisiana, Huey P. Long Medical Center and the VA Hospital. Dr. McNeill was a Clinical Assistant Professor, Tulane Medical Center 1966 and 1978, and Clinical Associate Professor Tulane Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology from 2004 until his retirement in June of 2012. Dr. McNeill was chairman of the Utilization Review Committee, Jo Ellen Smith Hospital in 1978, President of Tulane Eye Alumni Association in 1983, Secretary of Surgery, Jo Ellen Smith Memorial Hospital in 1982 and Chief of Surgery at Jo Ellen Smith Memorial Hospital in 1984. He participated in numerous professional societies and organizations including American Medical Association, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Southern Medical Association, New Orleans Academy of Ophthalmology, Louisiana Ophthalmology Association, American Intraocular Implant Society, Orleans Parish Medical Society and Louisiana Medical Society. Dr. McNeill was an American Academy of Ophthalmology fellow and was certified in Ophthalmology with the American Board of Ophthalmology. In support to the field of ophthalmology, he was Clinical Investigator at McGhan Medical in 1976 and conducted the first intraocular lens implantation. Also, in 1980, he was the Clinical Investigator for Cilco Medical. He received many honors and awards including Certificate of Merit City of New Orleans 1979, ordained ruling elder, Presbyterian Church 1980, Outstanding Service Award, Commissioner, MS/LA Clan Macneil Association of America 1988 & 1990 and received commendation from Senate of the State of Louisiana. Dr. McNeill was also chosen as the Outstanding Tulane Eye Alumnus in 2008, speaking at the Tulane Eye Alumni Day June of that year. At the same event in June 2012, he led a presentation entitled “It was the best of times . . . The experience of unretiring”. Dr. McNeill has created a scholarship fund in honor of his first wife Virginia McNeill for students studying science at Centre College.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service to be held in the chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, LA on Friday, March 6, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon. Inurnment will follow the service in Metairie Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation to Junior Achievement of

Greater New Orleans - the world’s largest organization dedicated to empowering and inspiring you people to own their economic futures- by visiting www.JAGNO.org and clicking on DONATE NOW. Please make sure in the additional information section you state it is in honor of Dr. David Lee McNeill.

A direct link to the page is https://secure.qgiv.com/for/jaogno

The family invites you to share your fond memories and condolences online at lakelawnmetairie.com.