Neil Glenn, 83, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully on Feb. 14, 2015, surrounded by his loving family.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Virginia Gleen, whom he met at Carolina Beach, N.C., in the summer of 1950. He was the proud father of Neil Bost Glenn, Jr. (Cindi) of Charlotte, N.C., Linda Glenn Boyle (Jay) of Cary, N.C., William Anderson Glenn (Jane) of Charlotte, N.C., and grandfather to Shannon, Kathleen and Caroline Boyle, Emily, Juliana and William Glenn and Anna and Grace Glenn.
Born on Sept. 8, 1931, in Burlington, N.C., Glenn was the son of Ross William Glenn and Alice Hawn Glenn. He received a B.S.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1953. Upon graduation, he joined the Atlanta office of the accounting firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., now known as KPMG. He was transferred to the firm’s Greensboro, N.C. office later that year.
Glenn was the president of the Greensboro Junior Chamber of Commerce, known as the Jaycees, from 1962 to 1963. While president, he was involved in the Jaycees’ annual sponsorship of the Greater Greensboro Open, now known as the Wyndham Championship, a regular tournament on the P.G.A. tour. In recognition of his devotion to the Jaycees, Glenn was named a Life Member of the Greensboro Jaycees and a member of the Green Coat Club, now known as the Founders Club.
In 1963, he moved to New Jersey and was admitted to the Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. partnership. He was the partner-in-charge of the firm’s Newark office tax practice from 1963 to 1970 and served as the office’s managing partner from 1970 to 1976.
In 1976, Glenn was transferred to the firm’s New York City Executive Office to become Vice Chairman – Tax. He served in this position until his retirement from the firm in 1987. Under his leadership, the firm’s tax practice experienced an unprecedented period of growth. In the early 1980s, Glenn recognized the potential impact of computer technology on the accounting profession. As a result of his vision, devotion and perseverance, the personal computer was introduced in the firm’s tax practice in 1982, and with it the firm’s first standardized electronic mail system was implemented.
While in New York, Glenn also chaired the firm’s strategic planning committee that developed and implemented a firm-wide strategic plan and strategic management process that led to the worldwide merger of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. and Klynveld Main Goerdeler, which at the time was the largest accounting firm merger in history. In addition, he served as the chairman of the firm’s tax practice committee and its professional practice review committee – tax, and he served on the board of directors and operating committee.
Glenn supported his alma mater throughout his life by establishing an endowment for the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and by supporting the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School as a member of the 1919 Society. He served in various roles in numerous civic and charitable organizations in North Carolina, New Jersey, New York and Florida. He was also a member of many social and business clubs and organizations, including The Economic Club of New York.
Glenn enjoyed spending time with his family, reading, playing golf, challenging himself by learning new things and encouraging those around him to excel. He will be remembered for his generosity and strong work ethic that will live on in his children and grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank Neil’s devoted caregivers and the VNA Hospice House of Vero Beach for their support and care in his final days.
Neil will be remembered at a memorial service in Mount Olive, N.C., at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach. A guest book is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
