Robert Boyd MacNeill, known by his long time friends as "BO" passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday May 25th in his sleep at his home in Walton New York.

Robert was born in Waldwick New Jersey on December 27th 1936. His family later relocated to Homer New York where he graduated from high school. He then went to nearby SUNY Cortland where he studied Education. While at Cortland he played Football and Lacrosse as well as being on the Wrestling team. Upon his graduation from college Bob married Susan Gandolfo whom he met at Cortland State. The MacNeills then moved to Walton where in 1959 Bob started teaching at Miller Avenue School in Walton where he and his college buddy Carl Foster were the first two male teachers. Bob taught 6th and 4th grade at Townsend Elementary School for 33years. During that time he had other jobs mainly in the summer. These jobs included for 19 years a police officer for the Walton Police Department, construction for Jess F. Howes in Sidney Center, he managed the Walton public pool for several summers, he did radio broadcasts of high school sports as well as having a radio program called "Music in the Evening" at WDLA which, without fail, he ended with the phrase "smile, it's the most contagious thing you can do".

Bob was a football coach as well as starting the Wrestling program at WCS and was the long time head coach as well as a New York state and NCAA wrestling official. He was inducted into the New York state high school Wrestling hall of fame as a coach and an official. He is also a member of the National Wrestling hall of fame in Stillwater Oklahoma. He also started and named the Walton Christmas Wrestling Tournament after two of his former wrestlers Michael Cuneen and Steven Doane who were killed in Vietnam.

Bob enjoyed hunting, shooting trap, and playing cards at the Walton Mountain Sportsman's club where he was affectionate known as "Muck". He played Walton town team baseball and was a long time member of the Wallace Bag Company softball team. Bob took his 6th grade class to New York City for 18 years where they took a boat tour around Manhattan and toured the World Trade Center as well as managing the Jump Rope For Heart program. You could also hear his familiar voice at the WCS football games as he did play by play announcements at Jim Hoover field.

Bob is survived by his wife of 57 years Susan MacNeill (Gandolfo) a daughter Lisa MacNeill Manah in Rancho Cordova CA, a son Michael E. MacNeill in Walton NY, grand children Moudi Manah in Rancho Cordova CA, Laura Thomas in Rancho Cordova CA, Christina Joyce in Downsville NY, Jeffrey Thomas in Delancy NY, and Michael E. MacNeill II in Walton NY. Great grand children Zachary Joyce in Downsville NY, and Elijah and Eliana Manah in Rancho Cordova CA.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to

Walton Fire Department and EMT

Walton Booster Club

Heart of the Catskills humane society