NJSGA, Golf Community Mourn the Passing of Jay MacNeill

March 11, 2024 – Jay S. MacNeill, a longtime board member, officer, and past president of the New Jersey State Golf Association, passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

MacNeill, 82, was born in Plainfield in 1941. He grew up in Green Brook and was a longtime resident of New Providence before moving to Tinton Falls. An avid golfer who was a member of Plainfield Country Club, MacNeill was elected to the NJSGA board in 1994 and served with great distinction in many capacities until his passing. He was President of the association in 2006-07 after two-year terms each as Vice President (2004-05) and Secretary (2002-03).

During his tenure on the board and under his leadership, the NJSGA made great strides, including the sale of the association’s “Golf Cottage” in Bloomfield and subsequent relocation to Kenilworth and Galloping Hill Golf Course. In addition, MacNeill was instrumental in the merging with the former New Jersey State Women’s Golf Committee to form the NJSGA Women’s Committee, bringing with it the addition of three women’s championships. He also oversaw the restructuring of the publication of the organization’s magazine. For his years of dedicated service to the game, MacNeill was honored with the New Jersey PGA Section and New Jersey State Golf Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018.

Professionally, MacNeill was a trial lawyer and a founding member and managing partner of the firm of MacNeill, O’Neill, Riveles & Spitzer in Cedar Knolls. He represented healthcare professionals, healthcare and corporate entities. He litigated at all levels in the state and federal courts, with extensive experience trying jury as well as non-jury cases. He had wide-ranging experience in significant civil matters involving complex commercial litigation.

MacNeill is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret “Peggy” Harrington MacNeill; their children, Ian MacNeill, of Needham, Mass., and Cate Knight and her husband, Jeff, of Little Silver, N.J.; and five grandchildren; Jay, Luke, Laura, Maryn and Jay. He is also survived by his sister, Janet MacNeill Brown.

Visitation will be at Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Ave., Westfield on Wednesday, March 13 from 3-7PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 10AM at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Mountainside. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jay’s memory may be made to the New Jersey State Golf Association Caddie Scholarship Foundation, 3 Golf Dr., Suite 206, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, or click here for more information.