Nov. 1, 1924 - June 27, 2009

Victor Neal, 84, of Albany died Saturday at his home.

Victor was born in Dell Rapids, S.D., the youngest of four children to Ralph E. and Margaret T. (Nugent) Neal. He grew up on a farm near Egan, S.D., where he experienced the rigors of farm life during severe winters and droughts as well as during the Great Depression.

He graduated from Egan Consolidated High School in May 1942 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November of the same year. He served in the amphibious forces of the 7th Day Adventist Fleet, SW Pacific before being selected for officer training in the V-12 and Navy ROTC programs. He received his honorable discharge in 1946.

Victor worked as a geophysicist for the Carter Oil Co. from 1948 to 1949 in Louisiana, Kentucky and Indiana. From 1950 to 1962 he was a science and mathematics teacher and an administrator in high schools in Cando, N.D., and Sandy, Ashland and Portland.

His career in oceanography began in 1962 and lasted until retirement on Dec. 31, 1987. Most of this time he was on the faculty at Oregon State University, where he became assistant dean of oceanography, and served on a temporary basis as assistant vice president for international programs. Within this period (1964-1966) he served two years as an assistant professor of oceanography at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. He spent 1972 as an exchange professor with the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C., where he was program manager for polar ocean studies in the Office of Polar Programs. In 1981 he spent four months on sabbatical, teaching oceanography and advising on the development of marine science programs in Mexico. In 1987 he held a Fulbright Research and Teaching Fellowship at Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, Chile.

He was instrumental in developing international cooperation in research programs involving United States scientists from several institutions; the largest of these programs was the International Southern Ocean Studies program.

In addition to his administrative duties at Oregon State University, he was involved in research, teaching and advising students. His research interests were estuaries and coastal zones, El Niño events, and thermal microstructure in the Arctic Ocean and freshwater lakes (Crater Lake, Blue Lake and Lake Tahoe). He taught courses in oceanography, limnology and marine resource management. He also developed and directed the following programs: Latin American Oceanography graduate program, Marine Resource Management graduate program, and an International Sea Grant Program.

After retirement, he taught one semester on board the SS Universe (Semester at Sea) for the University of Pittsburgh.

Victor is survived by his wife, Penny Neal; children Anita LaCoste of Brownsville, Mariette Donahue of Albany, Kim Shaw of Beaverton, Kevin Fisher of Everett, Wash., Michael Fisher of Albany and Roderick Fisher of Salt Lake City; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; stepbrother Dale Goodrick of Forest Grove; sister Bernadine Rightley of Plymouth, Ind.; and stepsister Lois Roesle of Elk Grove, Calif.

He was preceded in death by both of his parents, Ralph and Margaret Neal; brothers Scott, Leonard and Phil; and stepbrother Robert Goodrick.

At the family's request there will be no services at this time.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, and sent in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 Washington St. S.W., Albany, OR 97321 (www.fisherfuneralhome.com).