John McNeil Wilkie

John McNeil 'Neil' Wilkie (b. NY Nov. 12, 1938) passed away on February 28, 2026, after a brief illness at his home in Galesville, Md., surrounded by his family. He died just six months after his wife and life partner, Eugenia Van Horn Wilkie, who also passed away at home. They leave behind a son, Ian Wilkie, and three daughters Allison Wilkie, Christina Sumner and Jennifer Wilkie, as well as a son-in-law Wilson Sumner and three grandchildren, Jamie, Edith and Rennie Sumner. Neil attended Brooks School and Harvard College, where he graduated in 1960 with a major in History. After college, he served in the U.S. Army, before joining Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco. There he met and married Eugenia, a principal dancer in the San Francisco Ballet Company. They moved to New York, where Neil began a long career at JPMorgan, in which he focused on international finance. The family lived for years in Milan and in Darien, Conn. where Neil and Eugenia loved to host dinner parties. In 1992, Neil opened the Telluride Music Company in the Colorado ski town, where he indulged two of his lifelong passions, music and skiing. An excellent guitarist and singer/songwriter, Neil would entertain friends with his original country songs and Willie Nelson covers. Later in life, he and Eugenia settled in the DC region to be closer to family. Neil loved people. He put the gentle in "gentleman" and he lifted up those around him. Neil was deeply happy on the Chesapeake Bay aboard his classic Bertram, the Piper. He worked hard to protect the bay he loved, serving as chairman of the citizens advisory council of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. Neil lived joyfully, loved faithfully and walked in peace. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, Md. In memory of Neil and his love for the Chesapeake, the family welcomes donations to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in lieu of flowers.