George Everett McNeil

George McNeil, 93, a long-time resident of San Rafael and Marin County, passed away November 17th, 2025. George Everett McNeil, was born on July 8, 1932 in Kenosha Wisconsin to his mother Coyla Marquisse McNeil and father Everett McNeil. George studied bass and went on the road professionally at age 16. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Lawrence University in Wisconsin. After the birth of his first son Jeff, and a few twists and turns, he made his way to San Francisco where, on the second day there, he met his loving wife of 50 years, Marilyn Rita Morf (McNeil). They eloped and moved to Berkeley in the 60’s, where George earned a degree in Architecture from UC Berkeley. They started raising a family and moved to Marin. George was an active musician, who played bass professionally for 77 years. He was regular jazz bass player at Bimbo’s for 10+ years, SF Broadway shows at the Orpheum and Curran theater for 20 years, and played in various orchestras and symphonies, all while doing his architect job during the day. He designed and built his dream house with his own two hands, along with his son Brad and crew. George valued art, music, education, reading, learning, democracy, and he and Marilyn enjoyed hosting jazz parties, and house concerts. He was a caring, loving man who was all about his family and the people he befriended. He contributed to various organizations and did things to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and the world. Everywhere he went people knew who he was. He is very well loved and will be missed. He is survived by his wife Marilyn (passed), children Jeff Grunewald, Brad McNeil, Cece (Cecelia) McNeil, Heather Picard (passed), Patrick McNeil, his grandchildren, Meg, Bryce, Kelsey, Hannah, Ryan, Noah, Maddie, and Keira, and his four great grandchildren, Kallum and Asher, and Henry and Faith.