In Memoriam: Neal Tanis AIA

July 5, 2018

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Neal M. Tanis, AIA.

Neal M. Tanis, age 85, of Wayne went home to the Lord on Tuesday June 26, 2018.

Neal was a registered Architect in New Jersey and New York and a member of the American Institute of Architecture.  His practice has been located in Clifton for over 50 years.  He was most importantly a loving Husband and Father.

He was born and raised in Prospect Park and attended Eastern Christian Elementary School.  He graduated high school from Passaic County Technical and Vocational High School. Neal served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea in the early 1950s, post conflict.  After he was honorably discharged from the Army in mid 1950.  He continued his work as a draftsman until he achieved his Architectural degree from the Institute of Design and Construction in Brooklyn, New York and became licensed. Neal’s Architectural practice has always been in Clifton, N.J., first on the Clifton Avenue extension and then in Botany Village where it is currently located. He never retired and worked up until his last days.  He loved his work and was devoted to it.

He cherished 26 years of loving and loyal marriage to his wife Janet.  Neal enjoyed playing sports competitively, particularly Basketball and Softball, which he enjoyed up to his 70th year.  He was especially proud of the League “Best Pitcher” award given to him by the Packanack Lake Men’s Softball Association in 2002, his 70th year.  Neal and his wife Janet also loved to travel and enjoyed various vacations to Italy and the Mediterranean where Neal would marvel at the architecture.  They especially loved spending tine at their home in Sarasota, Florida.  Neal was a devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather.  He was kind, generous and had an outstanding work ethic and great faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Neal touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed.

Neal is survived by his wife Janet Tanis of Wayne, six sons; Ty and his wife Marilia of Oak Ridge, Tom and his wife Janet of Oak Ridge, Tal Tanis of Oak Ridge, Ted and his wife Dani of Newfoundland, Troy Tanis and his companion Chrissy Koch of Stockholm, and Travis Tanis of Oak Ridge, three daughters; Taryn Machos and her husband Michael of Old Bridge, Lauryn Tanis and her companion Michael Sherman of Butler, PA, Lindsay Durosier and her husband Jeff of Spring Valley, NY, and two step-sons Dr. Dennis Tirch and his wife Dr. Laura Silberstein Tirch of Ringwood and John Tirch and his wife Leah of Pompton Lakes. He is also survived by one brother Robert Tanis of North Haledon, and one sister Ethel Baum of Grand Rapids, MI, eighteen grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Friends may visit with the family from 4-8PM on Friday June 29, 2018 at the VanderMay Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Rd, Wayne.  Funeral services will be held 11 AM on Saturday, June 30 at Green Pond Bible Church, 1083 Green Pond Rd, Newfoundland, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Neal’s name to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

Leave a message in the Guest Book.

By AIANJ | Posted in AIA-NJ News, Architecture in NJ | Tagged: In Memoriam, Neal Tanis AIA | Comments (0)