Cornelius "Neil" Deir

Neil Deir, 87, passed away peacefully at NHC Healthcare Bluffton on May 7th, 2025 after a gradual decline following the loss of his beloved wife Cathe in 2023. Neil was born on April 3rd, 1938 in Queens New York to Cornelius James Deir and Mary Cecilia Deir, née Foley. While he eventually lived in New Jersey, Virginia and South Carolina, he was always – at heart – a proud New Yorker. And like his hometown, and his New York Yankees, Neil was bigger than life – vibrant, outgoing and indefatigable. In his mid-twenties he met his match in a young Cathe Larkin. Together they had three children and built a life that was really more a series of great adventures.

Professionally Neil was a serial entrepreneur, building several successful businesses including Career Development, Healthcare Careers and Healthcare Everywhere. Through these ventures he helped countless individuals find and advance in meaningful roles in a wide variety of industries. He also hired and mentored many recruiters and business professionals, spreading his innate optimism, drive and joy in the work. In fact, if you were to ask him, he would say he never “worked” a day in his life.

Neil’s passions were many and varied. His love of wine and cooking evolved over the years to the point that he became a renowned chef in his own right. He eventually combined his culinary and business interests by opening two highly regarded restaurants on Hilton Head Island, SC – Neno’s and Neil’s. He was an avid golfer, honing his game at Woodlawn & Belle Haven Country Clubs in Virginia and Colleton River and Hampton Hall in Bluffton. His love of golf eventually led him to the “auld sod” of his ancestral home in Ireland. Tracing his roots back to County Tipperary, he was a founding member of Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale and ultimately gained dual citizenship. No matter where he was in the world – and he travelled everywhere, extensively – a pint of Guiness or a splash of Bushmills took him back to the four green fields of Ireland.

Though his love of the good life and all his hobbies and interests ran deep, Neil’s most defining love was unquestionably his family. Kay, Sean and Brian truly meant everything to he and Cathe. He took immense pleasure in their lives and the six grandchildren that came to revere their “Pooh Bah”.

Neil is survived by his three children Mary Katherine “Kay” (Joe) Green, Sean (Linda) Deir, Brian Deir and his fiancé Nina Symonds and his grandchildren Jay (Bri) Green, Larkin Green, Ashley (Daniel) Mills, Emma Green, Gabi Deir and Kyle Deir. He will also be dearly missed by his elder sister Mary Ann. A Funeral Mass will be held on July 19th, 2025 at 11:00am at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 31 St. Gregory Drive, Bluffton South Carolina 29909. In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made to the Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600 Doylestown, PA 18901. https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate

Dementia Society of America
Web: https://www.dementiasociety.org/donate