Cornelius Vincent Spillane

Cornelius V. Spillane, known to all as Neil, passed away on February 18, four days prior to his 75th birthday. He was born on 2/22/43 in Jersey City, NJ. He lived in Nutley and Point Pleasant until his family moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Neil graduated from Ft.Lauderdale High School in 1961.

He was a member of the Flying L's football team. After graduation he moved back with his family to NJ where he worked at Honeywell. In1963, he returned to FL where he worked at Gulf Winds Resort and attended SPJC in St. Petersburg. He met Dianne Reed at that time. He joined the US AF in 1964.

He went to boot camp at Lowry AFB in Denver, CO. After basic training he was stationed at MacDill AFB in Tampa. With the threat of a tour in Vietnam Neil and Dianne were married on 10/2/65. He was sent to Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam for a year of duty. While there his first child Cornelius Vincent Spillane II (Skeet) was born. When Neil returned home he was stationed at George AFB in Victorville, CA. He served the rest of his four years there and was discharged in June 1968.

After Neil left the AF he, Dianne and Skeet went back to FL. He began working at Celotex Corp., a building products corp. and a subsidiary of Jim Walters Corp. He went back to SPJC at night and received his AA degree. Also during this time, his daughter Shannan Jeannine Spillane was born on May 6, 1970. He had begun working at Celotex as an expediter and was promoted many times. He retired in May 1997 as VP of Purchasing and Transportation.

After retirement Neil and Dianne bought a motor home and traveled extensively. Their biggest adventure was to Alaska in 1999 for four and a half months. He loved to do so many things like sailing, fishing, diving and snow skiing. His best times were spent fishing and skiing with his grandsons Colin and Brendan and family. He was also an avid reader.
Neil never met anyone he didn't regard as a friend. He even kept in touch with friends as far back as elementary school. He enjoyed life and everything it had to offer. He and Dianne were married for 52 years Neil will be sorely missed by his family and all those who knew him.

Cornelius (Neil) is survived by his wife Dianne, his son Cornelius (Skeet) Spillane II and daughter-in-law (Beth),his grandchildren Cornelius Colin Spillane and Brendan Spillane, his daughter Shannan Spillane and his brother Albert Spillane and sister-in-law (Amy).

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 10th at The Bahama Breeze, located at 3045 N. Rocky Point Drive E., Tampa, FL from 1:30 to 4:00PM. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa.
Please come and help us celebrate Neil's life with special memories and stories.