ROBERT G. NEEL

ROBERT G. NEEL of Orlando, FL died December 19, 2014 at the age of 91. He was the former chief executive officer, president and owner of Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home for more than 50 years. In 1967, he succeeded Woodlawn's founder, J. Asher Peter, as president when he purchased Woodlawn. In that role, he oversaw the operation and expansion of Woodlawn until his son, J. Asher Neel became CEO in 1990. He designed many of Woodlawn's historical and religious gardens, created and produced the famous "Life of Christ Mosaic," and the Woodlawn Chartres Labyrinth. He was president of the International, Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association; Southern Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association; and the Funeral and Cemetery Alliance of Florida. Additionally, the ICCFA organization recognized his contributions by electing him to its Hall of Fame in 1991. His two most satisfying contributions to the cemetery and funeral industries were his chairmanship of ICCFA's 100th Anniversary in 1987 and organizing and introducing the original International Cemetery and Funeral Association Emergency Record Guide in 1962, originally called The Family Portfolio. In 2003, he was elected to the Hall of Fame for the National Museum of Funeral History in Houston, TX.