Neil Wise has sampled the variety life has to offer from serving in the Coast Guard to earning achievements from the EPA.
By SAUL RESNICK
Special to The Sun
This is another in the series The Sun is running about people who make significant contributions to the Haddonfield community.
Life’s tour has been mostly sweet for Neil Wise, 72, immediate past president of the 65 Club. If variety is the spice of life, Neil has “spiced out” with education, active duty service to his country, meaningful Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) achievements over decades and community service on so many fronts that it’s a wonder he has time to sleep.
But that’s Neil, the ultimate optimist and achiever rolled into one.
“Life has been a magnificent trip so far,” Neil said with characteristic flair. “And I’ve enjoyed most of my time on the tour, despite some tough losses along the way.”
Neil graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1967 and served on active duty for five years. He went on to become an honors graduate at Rutgers University’s School of Law in 1975.
“Exploring the law and making significant contributions to the health and safety of human lives through 30 plus years of service with the EPA, as well as my current work at Rutgers, has kept me productive and useful,” Neil said with understatement.
Through all of his active work career, Neil’s community service has been extraordinary.
It includes:
o Board of Directors, Big Brothers Big Sisters, New Jersey and Camden/Gloucester Counties;
also, personal responsibility for 10 years for one troubled youngster, who is now gainfully
employed and contributing to his own community;
o Venue host, Haddonfield First Night celebrations, since its inception, 17 years ago;
o Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Institutional Review Board, reviewing research protocols.
Neil’s working career, with its many achievements, has been filled with satisfaction.
“I’m currently an Adjunct Professor in Environmental Law (since 1995) and career counselor (since 2005) at Rutgers Law School,” Neil said. “This in part overlapped my 30 plus year career as an environmental engineer, attorney and manager at EPA. I was Director of the Office of Remediation and Enforcement in Philadelphia for several years until I retired in 2004. It was very demanding and fulfilling work, because it directly impacted and protected peoples’ health and welfare from environmental hazards. I also helped in establishing major policy changes involving settlements from Superfund cleanup projects.”
Reflecting on his family life, Neil said that has been most important to him.
“I’ve had a brilliant partner and wife, Merrie, for almost 39 years,” Neil said with affection. “She is much smarter than I am but always makes me feel otherwise.”
“Merrie has BS, MS & PhD degrees and worked in responsible positions at Glaxo Smith Kline,” Neil said.
Neil also has two daughters: Lisa, a PhD chemist, who is married to Axel Herzog, PhD chemist as well, live in Berwyn, Pa., with Neil’s two grandchildren, Camille, 14, and Maya, 12 . Neil’s other daughter Kori, died at age 36; but she also left them with a granddaughter, Avery now 19, who is an accomplished sophomore at the University of Delaware.”
“Tragedy seems to have a way of entering many lives, and it entered mine, as well, because I lost my first wife, Joyce, at an early age,” Neil said. “So two extraordinary people, my first wife and my daughter, were taken from me well before their time, but I find solace in the many wonderful memories they left me, which I will never forget, and I think of them frequently.”
Tennis occupies a lot of Neil’s leisure time.
“I play as often as I can and as my body allows, and mainly play with older guys, which makes me look faster,” Neil said.
Neil’s current take on life is simple.
“Family comes first, then give time and effort to help others, which gives me great personal satisfaction and a real feeling of accomplishment,” Neil said. “If that’s the legacy I leave, nothing could be better.”
This is part of a series The Sun runs about residents who make contributions to a better life for all of the citizens of Haddonfield. If you are interested in joining the Haddonfield 65 Club, contact Bill Brown at 429–4368, or by email at [email protected].
