Cornelius Neil Francis DELANEY Jr.

5 AUG 1968 - 27 JUL 2022

• BIRTH: 5 AUG 1968, South Bend, St Joseoh, IN
• DEATH: 27 JUL 2022, South Bend, St Joseoh, IN

INDEX

[N33364] Cornelius Neil Francis Delaney Jr.
August 5, 1968 - July 27, 2022

Cornelius “Neil” Francis Delaney, Jr. departed this earthly plane to join the divine afterlife of peace on July 27, 2022 at the age of 53. He was born on August 5, 1968 in South Bend, Indiana to Cornelius Francis Delaney Sr. and Helen Louise Prescott Delaney. Neil was a brilliant academic very early in his years and throughout his life. He attended Stanley Clark School in South Bend, Indiana. In 1986, he graduated from Saint Joseph High School in South Bend as the class salutatorian. Neil majored in Philosophy and earned his B.A. from Stanford University in 1990. Following in his father’s footsteps, Neil continued on to earn M.A (1993) in Philosophy and his Ph.D. (1997) in Philosophy from Princeton University, where he published a groundbreaking paper, “Romantic Love and Loving Commitment: Articulating a Modern Ideal,” in American Philosophical Quarterly. An excellent teacher of philosophy, Neil was known to meet with students during meals for philosophical discussions on paper topics. Former students often contacted him to check in on him years following graduation. A self-professed rolling stone, Neil began his teaching career at Arizona State University, and later worked all around the country as a visiting professor and scholar, including at Stanford University, the University of San Francisco, the University of Michigan, Georgetown University, UNLV, The Ohio State University, and the University of Notre Dame. He made many friends and enchanted many with his brilliant wit, incredible sense of humor, and charm. While he chose to pursue philosophy professionally, he shared a love of literature with his mother Helen. He enjoyed collecting great books, loved James Joyce, and enjoyed discussing books and ideas with all he met. Neil was an exceptional tennis player at a young age. He was the youngest South Bend City Men’s Champion at age 14. Throughout his high school tennis career, he played both singles and doubles, occupied top spots in the state of Indiana during high school, and went on to play tennis at Stanford. An avid sports fan, Neil enjoyed sports of all kinds. His favorites were tennis, college football and the NFL. His first and most enduring loyalty was to Irish football, but he also rooted for his alma mater Stanford, and the Ohio State Buckeyes on college football weekends. He would move mountains to watch his favorite professional football team the Baltimore Ravens. If a Wimbledon tennis match was scheduled at 3:00am, Neil was sure to be viewing it live. Helen Louise Prescott Delaney, his mother, preceded him in death in 2020. Neil is survived by his father Professor Cornelius Francis Delaney and his proudest accomplishment and son Prescott Spenser Delaney. He was buried at the University of Notre Dame’s Cedar Grove Cemetery following a private family service on Monday, September 12, 2022.

Posted online on October 15, 2022
Published in South Bend Tribune