Thomas F. McNeill, age 77, of Bryn Mawr, passed away on October 4, 2021 at home, as he wished.  He had suffered a stroke early in the year that left him unable to walk, and after numerous infections and complications he was finally home doing rehab, but his body slowly gave out and in the end he chose hospice care.  Survived by wife Lyn Elliott, brother Jack McNeill, stepbrother Bill Weiss and stepsister Joanne Weiss.  Predeceased by mother Dorothy Weiss, father John McNeill, stepfather Bill Weiss and stepsister Terri Foreman.  The extended family left to mourn his passing include branches of the Canneys, Foremans, Kleidons, Kulps, Weirs, and Weisses, with apologies to anyone inadvertently omitted.

Originally from Swampoodle, Tom was a life-long railroader, first at the Reading and last at Conrail.  Wild in his youth, a gentle soul as he aged, he was a kind and good man who loved harness racing, dogs, beer, Philly sports, and his Irish heritage, not necessarily in that order.

Tom started his 35-year railroad career by accident, when he appeared at a recruiting event thinking it was for something else and was asked to fill out an application for the Reading anyway.  He was hired on the spot and was initially assigned to the overnight shift in a block tower.  He worked his way out of the unheated block tower and into the heated but un-airconditioned Reading headquarters building at 12 ^th & Market, where workers would be sent home at noon on sweltering summer days because the building had reached roasting temperature—whereupon he and certain colleagues would head out and "get into trouble."  It was at the Reading that he met most of his colorful lifelong friends, whose escapades he declined to describe in detail.  During his time at Conrail he became part of "management" as a billing manager, but he never lost his union sensibilities.

Tom loved his family and the gatherings in the basement of the longtime family home in Juniata Park, playing cards and watching sports with his beloved uncles and the rest of the clan.  His favorite hobby was harness racing, and he, brother Jack, and stepfather Bill spent many more hours at the track than Dorothy would have liked, although Tom said they won more than they lost.  Hmmmm.

By the time he and Lyn met at Conrail he had mellowed a bit, and although they seemed an unlikely pair on the surface, they and their dogs had a wonderful 25 years of life together.  He had his quirks:  his cargo pants pockets were perennially filled with more items than his belt could handle, and even eight pockets didn't seem to be enough.  He ate his Cheerios standing up at the kitchen sink every morning, delighting several dogs over the years with Cheerios tossed on the floor, much to the chagrin of his wife and against all rules of dog training.  We like to think he's now with his beloved Coco enjoying endless rounds of Cheerio-scattering across the heavens.

In honor of Tom, please hoist a tankard of your favorite brew or throw your dogs some Cheerios, with the added bonus of annoying your spouse.

Tom is forever loved and will be forever missed.

Relatives and friends are invited on Monday October 11th, 10 AM Visitation followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church, 31 Pennswood Rd., Bryn Mawr, PA.  Services will be livestreamed via www.omgcparish.org Casual dress encouraged; family requests that all attendees wear masks.

No flowers, please. If desired, donation to an animal rescue of your choice.