Alexander William "Sandy" MacNeil

Alexander William (Sandy)  MacNeil was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 10, 1938 to Roderick and Harriett Campbell MacNeil. The sixth of eight children, he attended Boston schools. Sandy enlisted in the Army on January 16, 1958 and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Group. After graduation from Jump School he spent most of his military career in Germany as a Paratrooper. He returned home on June 4, 1961.

In the same year, he joined Local #7 Ironworkers, Boston. He was known as “High Steel MacNeil” until his retirement in March, 1996. His work took him many places including Michigan where he found fraternity and a whole new way of life.  

In Springfield, Massachusetts he was introduced to Elizabeth Lyle Kampfer at a dance in 1980. In 1982 they married and moved to Marlboro, MA then to Sun City in 2002 where they have enjoyed 20 years of retirement.   They have five children; Neil (Katherine), Ruth, Alexander II (Heather), Jeffrey (Megan) and Faith (Garry). He is also Gramps to eight grandchildren; Abigail, Jessiny, Elizabeth, Alexander III, Isabelle, Sophie, Emily, and Natalie and siblings, Florence, Frank, Patricia, Fred (Carolyn).  Sandy was predeceased by his parents, Roderick and Harriett Campbell MacNeil and siblings Roderick, Marcella and Walter.

Sandy and Beth are active members of Church of the Cross in Bluffton, SC, where he was also an usher for many years. Sandy was also a volunteer greeter for many years at Gods Goods.

Family, Church and Shrine/Masonry have been the cornerstone of Sandy’s life.

Visitation and honors by the Shrine and Masons will be held at Sauls Funeral Home, 90 Simmonsville Rd., Bluffton on Friday, June 23, 2023 between the hours of 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, June 24, 2023 at The Church of The Cross, Calhoun Street, Bluffton. Sandy’s cremains will be returned to his beloved town of Boston.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Morris-Slotin Transportation Fund c/o Alee Shriners, 100 Eisenberg Drive, Savannah, GA  31416 where he was a member of the Alee Directors Staff.

Sandy’s family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the Staff of Bloom at Belfair and Crescent Hospice for the loving and efficient care given to Sandy during his long struggle with vascular dementia.

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