- Date Of Birth: July 4, 1927
- Date Of Death: November 5, 2015
- State: Connecticut
Eugene John (Niemierzycki) Niel, 88, of Farmington, died of heart failure on November 5, 2015 in Morristown, NJ. Born in Hartford on July 4, 1927, he was the son of the late John and Helen (Kostrzewska) Niemierzycki. Mr. Niel’s pre-college preparatory studies began at Cheshire Academy, and in 1945, he graduated from Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA. He continued his education at Harvard University where he studied biology and anthropology, and graduated from Duke University with a degree in psychology. “Nemo”, as he was known in his youth, would be remembered as a wiz on the court, playing both high school varsity and college basketball. He pursued graduate studies at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduating with Masters and Doctoral Degrees in industrial and experimental psychology. While at North Carolina State, he was awarded a fellowship to pursue industrial psychological research. His thirst for knowledge prompted him to continue senior studies up until his 80th year. He participated in senior citizen educational courses in law and management, he studied religion and history for 15 years, and was enrolled in the Mini-Medical school programs at UCONN Medical School for three years. Mr. Niel took up careers in advertising, marketing, banking, education, and research psychology. Much of his professional career was spent as a senior officer in banks and financial institutions spanning eight states. He launched marketing departments in banks such as State Bank in Hartford, Colonial Bank in Waterbury, Princeton Bank and Trust in West Virginia, Citizens Bank in Cleveland, American Savings and Loan Company, in Albuquerque and Dedham Savings Institution in Massachusetts. He was responsible for introducing new banking legislation which included an historic branch banking system for the state of West Virginia. He taught courses in bank management through the American Banking Association on national and regional levels. His further teaching experience included a professorship at Concord College in West Virginia, where he was later appointed Chairman of Banking and Finance. In the 1970’s, Mr. Niel hosted a television series on modern innovations in banking and taught at The American Institute of Banking in Virginia and West Virginia. Professor Niel was nominated by Senator John D. Rockefeller, and received the Levy Freedoms Award for outstanding teaching at the college level in the Free Enterprise System. Among his many awards and professional achievements, Mr. Niel was most proud of his two Addy Awards and his 1969 award for the most Outstanding Advertising Campaign of the Year given by The New Haven Advertising Club. In 2002, the Board of Advisors of Who’s Who in America, named Eugene Niel a marketing pioneer for his outstanding achievements in the fields of advertising and marketing. Eugene enjoyed participating in many community activities. He was trustee to The Intensive Education Center for Special Education at St. Joseph’s College in West Hartford, the chairman of the Education Committee for the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Downtown Council Special Events Committee, a member of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Hartford, Chairman of the Economic Development Commission in Canton and a delegate to the Polish-American Congress. Mr. Niel spent much of his later years writing poetry, children’s stories, and researching the history of his family roots. His genealogical research and extensive writing, including cataloguing hundreds of antique photos continued to be his passion throughout his final years. He also enjoyed spending time with his beloved children and grandchildren and watching college basketball. Although his declining health kept him from traveling to see live basketball games, he was never far from a TV when the UCONN women’s team or the Duke men’s team, were playing. Dad came to live in NJ in 2012, and we want to thank the special nurses and caregivers of both CareOne Assisted Living and Sunrise Assisted Living for their endless support and kindness. Mr. Niel is survived by his five children: Eugene Niemierzycki, Jr. of Sanford, FL, Nancy DePaolantonio and her husband, Ernest of Mendahm, NJ, Cynthia Odell, and her husband, James of Bronxville, NY, Sandra Saharek, and her husband, John, of San Clemente, CA, and John Niel and his wife, Karen of Farmington. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and two great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Clara Niemierzycki.
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