Anthony P Neri

Anthony P. Neri, 87, of Whipple Rd., Pascoag, RI and Winward Court, Punta Gorda, FL left this world behind on 7/6/18 surrounded by his treasured family in the home that he loved. He leaves behind his cherished wife Jacqueline Mary (McMullen) Neri. He is survived by 7 children; Anthony Neri of Exeter, Lucia Neri and Catherine Robidoux, Peter Neri and Patricia Marois of Pascoag, Maria Aries and Jacquelyn Neri of Florida, 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was a father of the late Michael Neri, James Neri, and Sandra Bevins. He has three brothers, Frank Neri and William Neri of Warwick, Joseph Neri of San Francisco, three sisters; Theresa Murphy of Warwick, Anna Redington of Pennsylvania and the late Grace Boyer. In his youth he was an amateur and professional boxer, captain of the La Salle Academy boxing team, a member of the Wanskuk boys club boxing team, and the All- Navy destroyer boxing team at San Diego, California. He served as an altar boy for many years at St. Agnes church in the Charles St. neighborhood. Following his graduation from La Salle Academy Tony enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed on a destroyer based in San Diego. When his enlistment ended, he enrolled at Providence College and received a Bachelor of arts degree with majors in Mathematics and English. He was appointed to the faculty of Burrillville High school teaching Mathematics, English, and Science. In 1958, Anthony was one of 27 teaches in the United States awarded a full academic year, all-expense paid, National Science Foundation fellowship to Harvard University, following which he was awarded a Masters degree in education majoring in mathematics and physics. In subsequent years he was appointed principal of Burrillville high school. At the time, he was the youngest high school principal in Rhode Island. When the new regional junior - senior high school was completed in Blackstone Massachusetts, Tony, was selected as its first principal. Under his leadership, the regional school received national recognition in its music and athletic programs and a 10-year accreditation award by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition to his administrative duties, Anthony voluntarily chose to teach one class in mathematics, introducing for the first time, an Advanced Placement program for gifted students in calculus. He firmly believed that teaching is a most noble profession, and that administrators should not surrender their hands-on contact with students at the teaching level. In 1960 Tony was awarded a six-year, full expense paid Fellowship, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the American Academy for the Advancement of Science, to the University of Notre Dame. Upon its' completion, he was awarded a Masters Degree at Notre Dame University, Brown University, Boston University and Michigan State University. He taught in-service courses in modern mathematics to elementary and secondary school teachers from Providence, Warwick, Burrillville and Gloucester and classes for nuns, brothers, and priests from the Catholic diocese of Providence. He taught undergraduate and graduate classes at Providence College, Roger Williams University and Edison State College. He was a member of the Burrillville housing authority, St. Josephs CCD program, delegate to the National College Examination Board, athletic director for the South Providence Jewish Community Center, athletic director for the Roxbury Neighborhood House, member of the Juneau, (Alaskan) Ice field Research Project, studying global warming, and a member of the Foundation for Glaciological and Environmental Research in Alaska. An avid mountain climber, he ascended many of the major peaks in New Hampshire, Canada, Colorado, Washington, Idaho, California, Mexico, New Zealand, Alaska and the Himalayan mountains of Nepal. Neri was a graduate of the Northwest Outward Bound school and the originator and instructor for an Outward Bound program at Blackstone Millville Regional High School. Annually, he led a group of regular and disadvantaged students on an eight-day wilderness survival experience in the White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire, emphasizing self-reliance endurance and wilderness survival skills He leaves his family with a consummate love for them.----Accepting Gods' will in all things.