Buffalo Grove’s Bob McNeely dedicated his life to youth sports

Bob McNeely
Courtesy of the McNeely family

Bob McNeely brought his passion for sports to the Buffalo Grove youth football and baseball programs.

McNeely, who died June 9 at age 91 in his native Minnesota, was a baseball coach with the Buffalo Grove Recreation Association and a football coach with the Buffalo Grove Bills Youth Football and Cheer Organization.

“He loved children and teaching,” said his daughter, Miki Crusius. “He was very patient and he had a way of explaining things that you could understand.”

As commissioner of the Buffalo Grove Park District from 1985 to 1997, he helped build strong ties between youth programs and the park district.

The park district gave its name to the Emmerich East Park soccer field.

A lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan, McNeely developed his love for the sport growing up in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.

Bob McNeely, seen in a 1990 photo, was a coach for the Buffalo Grove Bills youth football and cheerleading organization.
Courtesy of the McNeely family

“He played all kinds of sports in high school. He played fast-paced softball for years and years,” his son Pat said.

McNeely’s job as an electrical engineer at Honeywell brought him to Illinois, and he and his wife Kathleen settled in Buffalo Grove in 1973. He began coaching when his sons Jim and Pat were playing baseball and football.

“He loved the football program. And that’s one of the reasons we named the Emmerich Park football field in his honor,” said Larry Reiner, longtime Buffalo Grove Park District commissioner.

Although McNeely’s teams enjoyed success on the field, Pat said, “It wasn’t about winning. It was about doing the best you could for the kids.”

Pat said a Chicago White Sox player came up to McNeely and thanked him for not giving his son special treatment.

“He was a very quiet man. But when he had something to say, people listened,” Reiner said.

Reiner said McNeely worked closely with his fellow park commissioners. He also wanted each park to be distinctive and not a “postage stamp” park, Reiner said.

Pat McNeely said his father loved horse racing and spent a lot of time at Arlington Park, although he didn’t like gambling. He even included “arlingtonpark” in his email address, his son said.

Later, McNeely returned to Minnesota, where he served as an assistant coach at Ashby High School.

In addition to his three children, he is survived by his wife of 64 years, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren. The funeral took place in Minnesota.