Memories of Paul MacNeil | Ever Loved

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In memory of

Paul MacNeil

Ocala, Florida

January 7, 1948 - October 30, 2019

Jan 7, 1948 - Oct 30, 2019

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Benjamin Lee

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Adelaide Shaw

I just now found out that Paul passed away when I clicked on the HN web site.  I am deeply saddened to hear this news. My condolences to his family.   We met only once, but carried on an email correspondence for many years. He was my editor a Herons Nest. I always looked forward to his comments on my work and appreciated his repeated and enthusiastic attempts to get my work accepted by the other editors. I have missed his encouragement and editing and shall continue to miss that as well as his cheerful news about his family and twin granddaughters.

  news of his death
 the golden tree sheds 
another bright leaf  

my haiku friend
 he gave me encouragement;
 he was my mentor 
there are no words I can write
 that can equal his own

Adelaide B. Shaw

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Helen Buckingham

I was so very sad to hear of Paul's passing. He was a tremendous support to me, as my Heron's Nest editor, in my early years as a haikuist. My thoughts go to his family to whom he would often refer in emails and who so obviously meant the world to him.

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Bill Cooper

Paul was a dear friend in recent years, sharing interests in haiku, Florida birds, and other topics, always with rare insight and a ready laugh. As haiku editor, he guided me through fledgling attempts with rigor and gentle encouragement. Paul is an enduring treasure to the haiku community, and his spirit lives on through Meghan and his grandchildren.

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Ferris Gilli

We know this about love: There are certain places in the heart that once filled, will never empty. Countless day-to-day events nurture memories that fill places in the heart—a loon’s faint echo, a peel of birch bark; a pelican’s dive, the incoming tide. The small tug at a great beard, a little girl’s giggle, strong arms gently enfolding her . . . reminders that lift us. Fellow travelers sharing laughter and wine and poetry over a hearty meal; such memories preclude emptiness. So open are we to this phenomenon, should only a single line in a single poem speak to us, our hearts are quickly filled.

How I miss my dear, dear friend. How grateful I am that we began our haiku journeys at the same time, and on common ground became fast friends. I am so very fortunate to have received the generous gifts of Paul’s knowledge, insight, and inspiration.

loon song . . .
becoming old friends
beside a starry lake

With love,

Ferris

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1

Agnes Eva Savich

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Rebecca Longo

I love the cover photo!
This is exactly how I remember Paul- sitting in his folding chair in the boat touring around the lake.
Paul is as much apart of the landscape of Onawa as the mountains in my memories. He was knowledgeable about all things Onawa and (while sometimes a more detailed explanation than you ask for ) would tell you the history of anything you ever wondered. His knowledge was mind blowing. In addition, through some combination of radio reports, intuition and the art of reading the clouds- he predicted the weather better than any forecaster.
His poetry was beautiful and gave another expression of the wonders of Onawa.
I will think of Paul often. He raised one of the most extraordinary women I have ever met and leaves behind two beautiful granddaughters.
May you rest in a place of beauty and peace.
Love,
“Becca”

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Karen Soria

Another short story about that summer: we went fishing in the lake of course, but the fish were not biting - until finally! - one did. It took sometime to figure out whose line it was on - not mine. But I remember Paul’s generosity of spirit and his saying to me, “I really thought you had caught it.” Precious memories of my second cousin.

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Karen Soria

I can’t tell you what year it was, probably the summer Paul was going into grade 9, when Steven and I spent extended time in Maine with Aunt Hilda and Susanna, which included at least a week in Onawa.
We were all young and foolish and had a great deal more energy! But! Paul was slightly miffed because good friends of his along the lake were climbing Boarstone that day and had not invited us to join. His plan: we would climb up the backside and surprise them!
I have no idea at what hour we began nor when we arrived. I remember the interminable climb over rocks and fallen trunks (with my seriously shorter legs) and above all, Paul’s encouragement to us - “it’s just over the next ridge!” I wouldn’t venture a guess how many times he said that! But sure enough, it finally was true - and there we were, just at the edge of the top.
We beat the others - and Paul had us perch on a place just below the top, as we listened for the voices of his friends. When we heard them and he gave the signal, we pulled out all our nascent acting skills and clambered our way with much moaning and groaning and crawled onto the top!
And - they were glad to see Paul, who gave Steven and me and experience and a story for a lifetime.

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Sally LaRue

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Sally LaRue

1985, Ocala, FL, USA

Paul was the best brother in law a girl could have. He lived his life creating opportunity for all he loved. When my sister died her one wish as she left was for her little daughter Meg to have a life full of opportunities and adventure. Paul lived his life and fulfilled his dreams as well as Linda’s....and for that I will be forever grateful to him.

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Stephen Hemmna

Megan, I am so sorry that Paul passed way. He and I were Onawa friends for over 60 years. We enjoyed driving our boats, going up the stream, and swimming at sand beach. In later years we enjoyed time telling stories and 5:00 pm happy hour. He will be missed. Steve Hemman

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Tim McQuaig

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Comments:

Tim McQuaig

I will truly miss Mr MacNeil as Ive known him since 1983 when I first started mowing his grass. It didnt... Read more I will truly miss Mr MacNeil as Ive known him since 1983 when I first started mowing his grass. It didnt take long for us to ... Read more I will truly miss Mr MacNeil as Ive known him since... Read more

Debbie Phillips

I was honored to know Paul and Megan for the short time I did. I hope the last few weeks were peaceful and meaningful for you all. I saw that they were. Bless you and your family. Godspeed, peace and healing energy to you all.

Debbie - Activities Director - Gardens on Quail

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Betsy Schmidt

1970, Onawa, Maine, USA

Paul was one of the young men around the lake that helped my parents work on our Camp. He was helping on one of the many projects, I believe it was the summer of 1969 and staying with his grandmother, Gwenie Spaulding. Gwenie had a stoke and Paul stayed at the lake. He would come help my Mom with projects and would be offered dinner. I learned to play cribbage that summer, but was a bad shuffler. Paul taught me to do the bridge and shuffle the “adult and correct” way. I often think of Paul as I shuffle adds and play cribbage.

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Elizabeth Stevenson Proebstle

We send the MacNeil family our thoughts and prayers. Paul and I discussed how Onawa is one of the most beautiful places in Maine. He will be missed.
Elizabeth Stevenson Proebstle

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William Arthur

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Agnes Eva Savich

Paul was my editor at Heron's Nest since the mid 2000's and he was always so generous with his stamp of approval, even if rejecting them from the final pool. Any poems he liked that didn't take, I kept on a shortlist I called "my MacNeils" and inevitably another editor would choose it somewhere down the line for publishing. I'll leave the most recent of these as a memorial poem:

new watercolors
the first drop
that starts a river

-Agnes Eva Savich, cattails October 2019

I had wished him in his recovery that I hoped to see him soon back in the nest of the heron. Whatever river of time he's traveling in now, I hope there's a warm and soft nest much like his beloved porch in which he can rest peacefully.

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Ellen Compton

A sad loss for the haiku family. We shall miss his warmth, his smile, his poetry.

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Paul Miller

Very sad to hear of his passing. A true and generous friend. One of my great joys on the E. Coast was visiting him in Maine, of which he knew and shared so much. Last time I visited he showed me Gulf Hagas (I attach a picture of him fording Pleasant River). In the last few years we corresponded by email and he was always proud to talk of his family. I’m glad he was surrounded by them at the end.

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John tiong Chunghoo

Friends of sparse words always treasured.

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Mike Rehling

We shared a love of haiku and of fine scotch! He will be missed by his family surely, but by everyone who knew him as well. See you on the other side, Paul!

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Agnes Eva Savich

Michael Dylan Welch

On June 29, 2001, at that year's Haiku North America conference in Boston, Paul signed my haiku autograph book. I'm now into my sixth book, with hundreds of poems and signatures from many well-known haiku poets from around the world. I've always asked people to add one or more of their favorite or best haiku. In response, Paul wrote the following two poems:

another stair
the weight of my daughter's
college bags

birdsong
through the cabin wall
spring wind

Paul had a big heart, a big spirit, in haiku and beyond.

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Agnes Eva Savich

Cherie Hunter Day

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Mike Rehling

Roberta Beary

2017, Katikati, New Zealand

Paul’s Haiku on New Zealand’s Haiku Pathway

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2

Mike Rehling

Agnes Eva Savich

Roberta Beary

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Created with love by Meghan MacNeil.

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