Michael L Neville

Michael Leo Neville, age 66, passed away peacefully at home on May 14, 2023.

Mike was born on January 20, 1957 in Arlington, Massachusetts to Robert and Patricia Neville. He made friends everywhere he went and nothing was more important to him than his family. He believed in a life of service and giving back to others at every opportunity.

Mike attended Saint Sebastian’s High School in Newton, Massachusetts and was a member of the varsity football, track and hockey teams. He went to Fairfield College for his undergraduate degree and he went to Babson College for his master’s degree in business. It was at Babson College where he met his future wife, Janice Desautels. After college, Mike honed his craft as a salesman, selling college textbooks, before finding his lifelong career in insurance. He started off as an employee of Braishfield Insurance, where he worked for several years while establishing a network and learning the trade, before joining International Insurance Group. He then embarked on building his own insurance agency, Green Insurance Exchange, where he focused on helping environmental contractors. He cared deeply about his employees and about being a force for good within his field. In his later years, he was delighted to join Willis Towers Watson, and countless coworkers were delighted to get to know him too.

Mike and Jan married in 1986 in Lynnfield, Massachusetts and moved to New York, where Mike worked on Wall Street and Jan worked for Calvin Klein. Jan and Mike loved their young, carefree, early days, but once they were ready to start a family together, Mike made clear there was “no way he was going to raise a Yankee fan,” and they moved back to the north shore of Massachusetts. From their home in Lynnfield, they raised their two boys, Connor and Liam. Mike was a hands-on father from day one, never happier than when he was spending time with his family. He was his family’s world, and they were his: he never turned down an opportunity to volunteer to coach their teams, even if he was unfamiliar with the sport. He could be found in the front row of every soccer game or basketball tournament and win or lose, he was ready to put a smile on everyone’s faces as he drove the boys over to dinner at Bugaboo Creek. Some of his happiest times were vacationing on Cape Cod with his extended family, where Mike chased down ice cream trucks for the kids on more than one occasion. That energy and pride for his family never faded, as he embarked on college tours and helped out with resumes. At a moment’s notice, at any time of the day, he could be counted on when anyone in his family needed his help - and there was nothing that made him happier than being able to help. As the kids left the nest and started their own careers, Mike and Jan relished every accomplishment, working their schedules around whenever they might be able to see Connor or Liam for lunch. Mike and Jan were perfect for one another from the start. They told each other daily how much they loved and adored each other. Their adventures took them to the Caribbean, the West Coast, Colorado, Arizona, Mexico and a couple trips to Disney World - but they were always at peace at their home in Lynnfield, enjoying the beautiful simplicities of life together. They loved days by the pool, morning coffees, watching crime dramas and going out to lunch at Market Street together. Every day that Jan prepared lunch, Mike would send her a photo midday letting her know that lunch was a winner. Mike would start every day with some meditation and later in life became an avid cyclist, frequently riding over 100 miles in a single morning. He took immense pride in being a regular rider at the Pan Mass Challenge, raising over $70,000 for cancer research over a 7-year stretch. He loved being a force for good in any way that he was able. When their goldendoodle Walt joined the group, that was the cherry on top to a happy family. Walt was Mike’s “coworker,” laying by his side, offering his special brand of support. Mike was always kind, considerate, an excellent listener and advice-giver and had a rich sense of humor. He didn’t mind repeating a good joke - and his family never did either.

Mike was the beloved husband of Janice (Desautels) Neville; devoted father of Connor Neville and Liam Neville, all of Lynnfield; brother of Constance Neville of Woburn, Laura Toner of Cotuit, and Monica Barber Raffel of Maryland; brother-in-law of Neil and Terry Desautels of Lynnfield, Michael Toner of Cotuit, and Lis and Joe Wilson of Monument, Colorado; uncle of Jarrett and Travis Kelley of Woburn, Katie Toner of Danvers, Bobby Toner of East Boston, Liz Parsons of Plymouth, Jacqueline Desautels of Lynnfield, Kellyn and Drake Wilson of Monument, Colorado, Leigh Barber Theofan of Austin, Texas, and Andrew Stone of Dorchester; uncle by marriage to Joe Parsons of Plymouth, Dominic Theofan of Austin, Texas, and Todd McMillan of Dorchester; friend of Bill W; and a colleague and friend to many.

 Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, May 21st  in the Funeral Home  from 2-5 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mike’s memory may be made to the Pan Mass Challenge at https://donate.pmc.org/.

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