Neil John King

September 23, 1929 - May 18, 2023

service

No services will be held.

memorial

American Cancer Society

P.O. BOX 22718

Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718

DONATE ONLINE

Neil John King died peacefully at home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on May 18, 2023, at age 93.

Neil was born on September 23, 1929, in Chicago, and was raised in Skokie. After graduating from Evanston Township High School, Neil headed to Yale University, where he was a champion Ivy League pole vaulter. Following his graduation from Yale, Neil served as a Naval Officer during the Korean War.

Following his naval service, Neil returned to Skokie to join his father in Armond King Real Estate as a broker, appraiser, and counselor. He served as President of the North Shore Board of Realtors and of The Counselors of Real Estate. Very active in business and civic affairs, Neil served on many boards, including that of Skokie Valley Hospital (now NorthShore University HealthSystem Skokie Hospital) for 50 years. He loved the Skokie Public Library and the Skokie Valley Rotary Club, where he and his father both served as president and whose meetings he attended weekly even after moving to Chicago.

Always up for an adventure, in 1975 Neil sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with his teenage son in a 36-foot sailboat. He was also an enthusiastic member of The Adventurers Club of Chicago, where he enthralled his grandchildren with shrunken heads, the giant stuffed bear, and the flags suspended from the ceiling commemorating several of his own escapades. A natural athlete, he also competed as a decathlete, a marathoner, and a runner well into his 70’s.

Above all, Neil treasured his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Diana; his sisters, Susan Gaede and Louise Webb; his cousin, Susan Leonard; his children, Marcia King, Steven King (Melinda), Carolyn King and Alison Bastien (Helio); Diana’s children, Charles Theobald (Sara) and Margit Nahra (Kirk); nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

At Neil’s request, there will be no service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123.

Neil John King died peacefully at home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on May 18, 2023, at age 93. Neil was born on September 23, 1929, in Chicago, and was raised in Skokie. After graduating from Evanston Township High School, Neil headed to Yale University, where he was a champion Ivy League pole vaulter. FollowingContinue Reading

See Condolences

Diana and family, Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of Neil's physical presence in this world. I greatly admired Neil for his zest for life and his intellectual curiosity and his encouragement. Neil helped me prepare for two successful completions of the Chicago Marathon and I was proud to call him my running coach. He represented to me the best qualities of a man and a human being. By his example he continues to be my coach toward emulating those same qualities. May God bless you and keep you all.

My deepest condolences to Diana and Neil King's family on his demise. When I first arrived in this country and came to Chicago, I was living in Lincolnwood and Neil was the man to whom I got introduced and he then became my sponsor for Rotary Club of Skokie Valley. Since Nov 2001 until recently I used to meet him once a while at the Rotary meetings. He and I talked about his trips to India with Diana and the experiences he had there. I really liked him and always was looking forward to an opportunity to talk to him. He was a man who had ocean of information. At any Rotary meeting if we could not get a speaker he would voluntarily offer to speak to the club on various interesting subjects. Neil I will miss you. RIP my friend

We are so sorry to hear about Neil's passing. He was an extraordinary man - a giant in Rotary and Skokie history. We expressed our heartfelt sympathies for you loss. We will miss Neil a great deal.

Thank you on behalf of Skokie Hospital, and the patients that have been helped in our facility as a result of Neil's generous service on the Board.

A memorial tree was planted in memory of Neil King . Plant a Tree

My deepest condolences to the family. I was so fortunate to reconnect with Neil in the last couple of years after our families were such good friends since the 1940’s in Skokie . I was one year behind Sue and Lou at ETHS. He was so active in his 90’s and I always enjoyed his frequent e-mails. RIP

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.