Wendell MacNeal

Wendell Phillip MacNeal III died at home in Bluffton, SC on November 3rd at the age of 97 with his wife by his side. He was born in Chicago, Illinois to Wendell Phillip MacNeal II and Eula Adams, the oldest of eight siblings. He is survived by his wife Bernadette, a son Wendell Phillip IIII (Tyger), stepchildren Timothy Bromiley, Heather (Bromiley) Wheeler, Sean Bromiley, grandchildren Nicholas Jarboe, Brianna Jarboe, Phillip MacNeal, Ava MacNeal, and step grandchildren Madeline Wheeler, Colden Wheeler, Althea Bromiley and his sister Catherine Curtis. He is also survived by three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter Michelle Jarboe and his siblings Arnold, Richard, Ralph, Earl, Bernadette Slaughter and Septima Burnett.

Wendell’s life was one lived with gusto, creativity and a passion for his family and for the theater arts. He personified the expression “living life out loud”. He left his hometown of Chicago at the age of 16 when his uncle, the legendary Cab Calloway asked him to drive his newly purchased car from Chicago to New York. Since he had quit school and was rudderless at the time he accepted the challenge even though he did not have a license to drive. On arrival in NY an offer was then extended to travel with Cab as a roadie which he eagerly accepted. He spent the next year traveling throughout the US and Cuba gaining invaluable life experiences while being immersed in the world of entertainment and famous people.

When they returned to NY he was told by the Calloways that his options were to go back to Chicago or stay in NY with them and return to school, which he elected to do. He went on to graduate high school and then Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland with a degree in psychology. He married Tina Rodriquez and immediately was drafted in the army and served in the Korean War. Together they had two children.

After returning from Korea he reunited with an old friend who was directing an all black touring company. She invited him to join the troupe and he toured periodically as a singer and actor while simultaneously working at Children’s Village in NY and pursuing his Masters in Social Work from New York University .

In the early 60’s, after a move to Connecticut, he became deeply involved in local theater as a director. He and a partner purchased a local church which they restored and transformed into a theater. For many years after he was the face of local theater, directing many productions. He founded a Shakespeare company in the early 1980’s and presented outdoor summer productions in the park bringing classic theater to new audiences.

While doing this he pursued a career as a mental health therapist and was instrumental in the development of the Danbury Hospital Mental Health Center. His reputation was one of wisdom, energy and a keen sense of humor. Upon retiring from the hospital he spent several years in private practice.

In 1990 he married Bernadette Bromiley and enlarged his family with three young stepchildren. This was a role he embraced, as in everything else he did, with grace and unconditional love. Together they developed a wonderful blended family and for years after they became adults would vacation together in the summer with their growing families .

In 2006 he and Bernadette relocated to Bluffton, SC where he continued directing local theater productions and serving as a mentor and creative consultant in the community. Throughout his life Wendell dedicated himself to enriching communities through music, theater, education and his wise counsel leaving a lasting legacy that spans many decades.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.