Neil Michael Stanick

It is with Love and warm Memories...

Neil was the kind of person who made you feel instantly welcome. He noticed people. He remembered them. He greeted them with warmth and humor. Whether you were family, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, or a friend of P & O’s, Neil made sure you felt seen and included. He loved freely and fully, and we want to honor that spirit with a special gathering. Please come as you are to celebrate Neil’s life, share your stories, and remember the joy he brought to all.

Sunday, May 17th, 2026

 Blissful Meadows Golf Club 

801 Chocolog Rd, Uxbridge, MA 01569

Open House

1pm - 4pm

Neil Michael Stanick lived just 51 years – but he packed more life, curiosity, laughter, and love into those years than most do over a much longer lifetime.

After a brave and determined battle with Stage IV cancer, Neil passed peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, surrounded by the family he adored and devoted his life to.

Neil is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Jennifer (Benoit) Stanick; his children, Parker and Olivia; his parents, Paul and Joan (Landry) Stanick of Whitinsville; his brother, Brian Stanick of Plymouth and partner Beth Hall; nieces, Morgan and Lauren; in-laws, Joseph and Jane Benoit of Millbury; sister-in-law, Jessica Kirschner and her husband Ted of New York; brother-in-law, James Benoit, his wife Tiffany, and their daughter Alaina of Ashland; along with many uncles, aunts, cousins, and his beloved dogs, Hunter and Remy.

He understood that family isn’t only who you’re born to – it’s who you show up for. And Neil showed up, always.

Neil was the kind of person who made you feel instantly welcome. He noticed people. He remembered them. He greeted them with warmth, humor, and often a fist bump and a cheerful “What’s up?” – a small gesture that somehow made a big impact. Whether you were family, a friend, a co-worker, a neighbor, or a friend of P & O’s, Neil made sure you felt seen and included.

Neil was many things: an engineer, a pilot, a storyteller (a legendary one), a skilled boater and fisherman, an Eagle Scout, a trivia master, a history buff, a New England Patriots fan, a dedicated Northbridge Football fan and a man who truly loved learning and sharing what he knew. He was also a leader – steady, capable, and the kind of person people naturally trusted and wanted to follow. He had a rare gift for explaining complicated things in a way that made sense – although getting to the end of the explanation sometimes required patience, snacks, and the occasional reminder to “land the plane.”

Neil’s drive and curiosity showed up early and never left him. He graduated from Northbridge High School in 1992 and went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. He later built a successful and fulfilling career at Dell, where he worked for over 20 years. He enjoyed the many roles he held over the years, especially managing and mentoring his teams. Neil took pride in the people he worked with and made lifelong friends along the way – relationships he valued just as deeply as the work itself.

His happy places were many. They included the seat of his riding lawn mower, where the grass was always just right, and evenings around a fire pit hosting trivia night and telling stories that wandered – but were always worth the journey. He loved comedy, he loved music, and he loved listening to the TV at the highest possible volume. He also loved building the perfect playlist – one more way he made ordinary moments feel like a celebration.

He loved being in the air, flying his plane, planning routes, practicing instrument approaches and landings, and savoring the freedom of the sky. He logged over 500 hours of flight time and had recently earned his instrument rating, and he especially cherished sharing his love of aviation with his father and his son. North Central Airport in Rhode Island was a true hub of joy for him – where the family plane was based, where he flew out of, and where he could often be found spending time with fellow pilots, chatting about flight journeys and adventures, and sometimes even playing the guitar between conversations.

He found joy at the kitchen table helping with homework, and at games and school events, never missing a moment of his children’s lives. Summers held a special place in his heart too – Cape Cod and Narragansett Beach among his favorites – where Neil could lose track of time in the very best way: spending endless hours in the water with Parker and Liv, loving nothing more than having his feet in the sand and the sun on his face, surrounded by family and friends.

And of course, home itself was one of Neil’s greatest happy places – because he didn’t just build a house, he built a gathering place. He poured endless care into creating a space meant to be lived in and shared, often leaning on Liv’s help and advice along the way, especially knowing how much Jen loved to entertain and throw a good party. It was a home designed for family and friends, laughter and togetherness, music played far too loudly, and memories made on purpose.

Above all else, Neil loved his family.

He was a devoted husband to Jen and an extraordinary father to Parker and Olivia. He was their biggest fan, their teacher, their guide, and they were the center of his world. Olivia – his mini me in all the best ways – shared his spirit, curiosity, and determination, and together they encouraged one another to pursue their individual goals and passions. Parker, with whom he shared his love of history and flying, shared countless moments of learning, adventure, and connection with him.

Neil was also an amazing son and devoted brother, Neil made a point of spending meaningful, one on one time with the people he loved most. With his mom it was watching NASCAR races together. With his dad it was sharing time saltwater sport fishing, hunting pheasants, and flying side by side, quiet, steady moments that said everything without needing many words. His brother, Brian “Mo”, was Neil’s rock and someone he deeply admired. The admiration was mutual in all regards, they sought one another’s advice, leaned on each other, were grateful for the steady presence, guidance and unwavering support each provided in kind.

When Neil was diagnosed, he entrusted his friends and family with a sacred assignment – to care for his family, to be there for them, to cherish them, and to champion them, if there came a time when he could not. And they – his beloved Fight Crew – did exactly that, rallying around him with love, laughter, and unwavering support. Through it all, Neil remained Neil: kind, curious, humorous, present, and deeply connected to those he loved.

Neil will be remembered for his generosity of spirit, his warm smile, his endless stories, his love of problem solving and confronting challenges, flying, fishing, and history, his devotion to his children, and the way he made ordinary moments feel meaningful.

His road was too short. And yet, it was full.

So, in Neil’s honor, find your happy places. Cherish them. Don’t let go.

Neil Michael Stanick will be remembered. He will be loved. He will be missed.

Your plane has landed, Neil. Godspeed and God bless.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Neil’s memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, in gratitude for the extraordinary care and compassion shown throughout his cancer journey. dana-farber.org/gift

We would also like to extend our deepest thanks to Neil’s doctors, nurses, and entire support team – those who stood by him, worked tirelessly, and did everything possible to help him each step of the way. Your dedication, kindness, and unwavering commitment brought comfort, strength, and hope to Neil and to all of us, and your care will never be forgotten.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the months to come. The family will update Neil’s obituary and will provide updates via Facebook and other means. We look forward to celebrating Neil with all those he cherished and loved.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Neil Michael Stanick, please visit our floral store.