In Memoriam: Innovator, Entrepreneur Eugene Terry Neely, 52

Eugene Terry Neely of Reston, Va., passed away on July 20 at Inova Fairfax Hospital after sustaining a head injury from a fall in late June. Terry was an innovator and entrepreneur in the electronic access control industry. He held three patents for products that are used in airports, banks and other facilities worldwide to provide secure access and identity management.

At the time of his death, Terry was the senior vice president of emerging technology at the Canadian corporation Avigilon. Prior to this, he was the founder, president and chief technology officer at RedCloud Security, which was acquired by Avigilon in 2013. For six years, Terry served as vice president of engineering at Honeywell Access Systems. He also held management positions at Management Information Consulting.

As a leader in the electronic access control industry, Terry helped make the world more secure. He had the ability to find solutions to intractable engineering problems. He made others laugh with his quick wit, and he inspired them with his intellectual drive and dedication to his work. The world is a better place because of the 52 years he spent in it, and those who knew him will sorely miss him.

Terry was born on May 17, 1962, in Opelika, Ala. He is survived by his wife, Gretchen Nedzi; his three children, Alexander (17), Bridget (12) and Brendan (10); his mother, Glenda Shurbet; his father, Eugene G. Neely III; his brother, Tim Neely; and his sister, Michelle Rubis.

He will also be greatly missed by Gretchen’s entire family: her parents, four siblings and spouses, and five nieces and nephew.

A service for Terry will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, at St. John Neumann Catholic Community, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made to the nonprofit organization Parent Encouragement Program (PEP).Contributions may be made online at www.PEPparent.org.

PHOTO: Terry Neely