Neil William Driscoll, 84

Neil William Driscoll, 84, of Acton died comfortably at home in Acton on November 4, 2025, with his wife of 56 years, Jeannine, by his side. 

He was born the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, August 31, 1941, the son of the late William Joseph and Anne Finnan, in Brooklyn, New York. Neil graduated from Newton High School and with high distinction from Babson College with a degree in business administration in 1962. Neil was an excellent athlete in high school and college, excelling in baseball and basketball. He had a minor league tryout with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was an avid tennis player through his 30s and won the Thoreau Club Men’s Singles Championship. He served in the Army Reserve.

Neil was the beloved husband of Jeannine. Also surviving are son William Neil Driscoll, daughter-in-law Laurel, and grandchildren Robert, Kaitlyn, and Charles of Lexington; son Brian Lapierre Driscoll, daughter-in-law Elizabeth, and grandchildren Boden and Devin of Portsmouth, New Hampshire; daughter Nicole Rose Mersereau, son-in-law Chris, and grandchildren John and Thomas of Acton; and daughter Danielle Marie Millett, son-in-law Mateo, and grandchildren Solea and Kian of Lexington. Neil is also survived by his sister Maureen Bonazoli, his niece Sandra Bonazoli, and nephew Robert Bonazoli.

Neil started his career at Haskins & Sells in Boston in 1962. He was with Deloitte Haskins & Sells for 28 years. Neil left Deloitte just after the merger with Touche and started his own accounting and small-business consulting firm, which he ran for 30 years. He helped thousands of his “clients” to accomplish and often exceed their financial and business goals. He was also much more than an accountant or financial consultant to his clients. Working with Neil also came with plenty of coaching and “life advice” and he was dedicated to helping his clients, no matter how large or small, better their lives and current situation.

After marrying the love of his life, Jeannine, in 1968, they moved to Carlisle and built a beautiful home on Indian Hill in 1970. Neil took an active role in all aspects of his children’s lives and was incredibly proud of all of them. He was the coach of their soccer, baseball, and basketball teams. Neil started the Carlisle youth soccer program with a couple of other dads and went on to win numerous divisional and regional soccer titles with each of the kids. He led the Acton girls soccer team to state championships in 1987 and 1989 with Danielle. He was instrumental in expanding the Carlisle recreation department and expanding the athletic fields there. He was awarded the Channel 5 “High 5 Award” for his coaching success and championing of the athletic fields in Carlisle.

In addition to their life in Carlisle, Neil and Jeannine bought a home at 56 Billings Road in Chatham in 1973, which would become the epicenter of family activities for the next 50 years. Happiness for Neil was being with family and friends. He loved a beautiful summer day in Chatham on the “uncrowded” beach at Harding Shores, on the Biddison, and a cocktail or two watching the sunset. 

He was a storyteller and had many sayings and philosophies on everyday life that will live on through those that knew him well. He taught all the kids about the wind, water, tides, currents, how to sail, motorboat and navigate the beautiful waters around Chatham and Nantucket Sound. 

Neil led the beach committee at Harding Shores, where he taught many of his peers, followers, and the town of Chatham about the ebb and flow, buildup, and erosion around Harding’s Beach and Bucks Creek. He was a champion of the installation of the jetties that protect that pristine beach to this day. The Driscoll family joined Stage Harbor Yacht Club in 1976, and Neil served as rear commodore in 1985. If Neil wasn’t at the beach or on the boat, you could find him at Eastward Ho!, which he loved, or walking the links at Acton Country Club.

He also thoroughly enjoyed his time in Bolton Valley. He purchased a little condominium in a remote resort in northern Vermont despite not being able to ski at the time. The family spent many Christmases and wonderful times on top of the mountain. Neil loved late afternoon cocktails with his many Bolton Valley friends and family at the James Moore tavern, end-of-day downhill races, a warm raging fire, and watching his children and grandchildren become expert skiers.

Neil loved being with his grandchildren and was a regular at all their activities and sports. He liked to say he had “season tickets” and would position himself at midfield of all his grandchildren’s games. He loved his dogs and granddogs, all of whom he playfully referred to as “Fang.” Neil was also an avid Boston sports fan and enjoyed every minute of the highs and lows of the Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox, and Bruins. 

He lived a very full life and travelled extensively on family vacations throughout New England, California, Vail, Aspen, Spain, France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico, the Caribbean, Croatia, Italy, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. He was a very tough, old-school character, and he never complained, no matter what his predicament. He challenged himself and all those around him to enjoy life, think positively, and to be optimistic about better days ahead.

We would like to say thank you to the amazing people who made it possible for Neil to remain at home during his final days, specifically Alex Niwarinda and Jen Lehoullier.

Relatives and friends will gather to celebrate Neil’s life during visiting hours at the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Acton Center, on Friday, November 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Irene Parish, 181 East Street, Carlisle, on Saturday, November 29, at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow at the Millett home. Interment will be private at Seaside Cemetery, Chatham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Neil’s honor to the Carlisle Recreation Department. Please make checks payable to Town of Carlisle, with “Neil Driscoll” in the memo, and mail to Holly Mansfield, Carlisle Recreation, Brick Building, 97 School Street, Carlisle, MA 01741.

To donate in Neil’s memory to the American Heart Association, visit: ahatribute.funraise.org/fundraiser/danielle-millett.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Acton. For Neil’s tribute page, visit DeeFuneralHome.com.