Donald Richard McNeal Obituary
Donald (Don) McNeal, Ph.D. an illustrious Rehabilitation Engineer died on October 20, 2025 at home in San Diego, California. While studying control theory at the University of Michigan, he read the book Cybernetics: Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine by Norbert Weiner. This sparked his interest in applying what he was learning as an Electrical Engineering major to applications within the human body. Later exposed to those with a catastrophic disability at Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Hospital (Downey, California) Dr. McNeal’s work help promote the field of neuromuscular assist stimulation (NMA) to help individuals walk who could not walk. Dr. McNeal also developed an analytical model for nerve stimulation that became the foundation for much of the theoretical work done in the field of NMA. In addition to his extensive research Dr. McNeal also founded Project Threshold in 1978, a clinical program that provided rehabilitation engineering services to thousands of clients in California. Dr. McNeal was a charter member of the Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America (RESNA) and became its third President in 1981. He believed RESNA has played a vital role in growing and shaping the field of Rehabilitation Engineering.
Donald Richard McNeal was born on March 27, 1938 in Lexington, Kentucky to Richard Scofield McNeal, who was an executive with Burroughs (Unisys), and Esther Lucille Eisenmann, a wonderful mother. He was the first of three children; Sue Ann born in 1943 and Sheryl born in 1953. Because of his father’s work Don in growing up moved often which was not his favorite thing. Later he realized, however, that by moving around he learned about new places, learned to be flexible, and learned how to make friends and get along with people.
Don graduated from Birmingham High School (Michigan) in 1956; from the University of Michigan with both an undergraduate degree (1960) and graduate degree (1962) in Electrical Engineering (EE); and a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in EE from Stanford University in 1968. While at the University of Michigan Don pledged the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity (Phi Gam or FIJI). Focused on the values of friendship, knowledge, and service this fraternity was the perfect fit for Don McNeal and he continued to keep his friendship with many of his FIJI brothers. GO BLUE!
On March 30, 1959 Don married a high school friend and his first love Susan Thayer Aldrich in Birmingham, Michigan at the First Methodist Church. They soon had their first daughter Kelley Jean in 1960. In 1962, they moved to Menlo Park, California, and their second daughter, Kathryn was born in 1963. With that move to California his professional career as a Rehabilitation Engineer began and continued until he retired in 2005. By that time, after many happy years together, Susan passed away in 1996 after a courageous battle with cancer. Don did find love again and married Michelle Larson in 1997 becoming a devoted husband and “dad” to Michelle’s son, Matthew.
Don and Michelle moved about from Naples, California to Bellingham, Washington to Berkely, California and in 2017 their final move to San Diego, California. Throughout that time, they traveled the world to places like China, Tibet, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Alaska and all over Europe and the United States. They also continued to play tennis, golf, ski, bike, camp, and hike. Don was Michelle’s best friend and they did everything together……most everything was perfect until Don McNeal was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2017. The disease played out as it is described the “long goodbye disease”.
In addition to Susan, Don was preceded in death by his sister Sue who died at age 33 in a rock slide accident (1976); his mother, Esther (Bobbie, 1993) and father Dick (2010). He is survived by his wife, Michelle; his daughter, Kelley in Sebastopol, Ca; his daughter, Kathy and husband Sheldon in Santa Barbara; his stepson, Matthew and wife Jocelyn in San Diego; sister, Sheryl and husband Paul in Fairfax, Ca; 4 grandchildren, 1 step-grandchild, 3 great grandchildren, and 4 nieces. He passed on to all of them the values of kindness, honesty, integrity, and a love for the outdoors………Don McNeal had a beautiful heart and a well-lived life. Really and truly, he was one of the nicest and smartest people in any room. His passing is a huge tremendous loss to his family and his many friends. His spirit will live on forever and ever….
A Celebration of Don’s life will be held on Saturday, January 10th, 2026 at 2:00 PM at his home in San Diego: For more information, call Michelle McNeal at 360-927-3404. Any Donation in honor of Don can be made to your local Alzheimer’s Organization or an Organization of your choice.
