In Memoriam: Sandy MacNeil

ACTA was saddened by the news that our longtime friend Sandy MacNeil has died. His dedication to the best in higher education was an ongoing inspiration for all of us.

Jonathan Carlton “Sandy” MacNeil was born on April 25, 1934, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He studied at Colby College and then the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 1957, Sandy married Virginia (Ginny) Roby.

His career included military service and his family business, MacNeil & Moore, a clothing store with four locations in Wisconsin. He later transitioned to a successful career in the investment industry. His philanthropic devotion was intense, and he served on numerous boards, including the Rotary Club, Ten Chimneys, the Salvation Army, Nashotah House, Forest Home Cemetery, Pabst Farms, and his church vestry. He also served on several corporate boards, including ANR Pipeline Company, Coastal Corporation, and El Paso Energy. Sandy was deeply involved in Wisconsin state politics, serving as state finance chairman for Wisconsin’s Republican party and in an informal capacity as an advisor to Governor Tommy Thompson. Ginny MacNeil was a member of the University of Wisconsin’s Board of Regents.

Upon retirement, Sandy and Ginny moved to North Carolina. In 2007, their funding and vision launched The Tocqueville Center for the Study of Democracy and Society at Furman University. The Tocqueville, one of ACTA’s Oases of Excellence, continues to bring intellectual diversity and deep academic experiences to the university community. It provides opportunities for students and faculty to engage with topics that too often are absent from campus life: religion, politics, ethics, in other words, the fabric of civilization. These were matters at the very core of Sandy and Ginny’s vision of education.

The MacNeils were tireless fundraisers for the Tocqueville Center, helping to build its capacity and resources. Sandy was a member of ACTA’s Legacy Society, and his generous bequest will be an immense help in advancing ACTA’s mission to promote the highest academic standards in higher education.

Those of us who interacted with Sandy will remember his penetrating wit, energy, and insight. His was a life very well lived, an inspiration to continue to devote ourselves to the kind of education that shapes thoughtful and engaged citizens.