Andrew Neilly Obituary

Andrew Hutchinson Neilly, Jr., former President and CEO of the book publisher John Wiley and Sons, Inc., died peacefully on February 4th at his home in Weston, Connecticut at the age of one hundred and one.

Andrew was born on Dec 28, 1923 in Baltimore, MD, the son of Andrew H. Neilly and Kathryn Crawford Neilly. His father was a Presbyterian minister. Andrew grew up in Baltimore and then the family moved to Rochester, NY. Andrew attended the University of Rochester for 2 years before joining the Army in World War II. At the war's end he returned to the University of Rochester and graduated in 1947.

Andrew was hired by the publishing house John Wiley and Sons, Inc. in 1947. He married Janet Eleanor Dayton in 1949 and they moved to New York City. Soon they moved to Westport, CT as they began their family. Subsequently the family moved to Weston, CT where they have remained for more than sixty years.

At Wiley Andrew moved up the ranks from a traveler riding the rails to visit universities and colleges to the executive suite. In 1971 Andrew became the first nonfamily member to be named President and COO of Wiley. In 1979 he was named CEO. He was Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Wiley until his retirement in 1995. During his tenure there, many international authors and publishers were brought out to the Neilly's home in Weston which became renown as a location for discussions on the role authors and publishers should play in advancing education across the globe.

Andrew was elected Chairman of the Association of American Publishers, Chairman of the Book Industry Study Group and President of the International Publishers Association, the first American to hold that position. Andrew and Janet were fortunate to travel all over the world with Wiley and with the IPA. He wrote, "The reason for Wiley's success does not rest on any one individual. We are always looking for a new level of potential for this company. We cannot exist in a niche; we can't sit still. Get people excited about something and they will do it."

He was a Life Trustee of the University of Rochester for many years. He and Janet established a Deanship at the River Campus Libraries as well as a lecture series that brings a diverse range of authors to the University for talks on their process, their recent publications and the ideas presented in their works. The talks were attended by faculty and students and welcomed members of the wider community to the campus. He was instrumental in supporting the new library built there. On March 6, 2025 the flags were lowered to half-staff at the University of Rochester in Andrew's honor.

Andrew was a longtime member of the Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport, CT. He was on several boards there and served as a Deacon, alongside Janet and later his son Thomas. He worked with Rev. Theodore Hoskins to establish Hoskins Place, an emergency shelter for women and with Dr. James Gillespie to establish the Gillespie Center, an emergency shelter for men. He loved painting watercolors and studied under Charles Reid at the Silvermine Arts Center. His paintings were exhibited in many shows.

Andrew and Janet spent summers on Long Lake in Maine ever since their honeymoon. Over the years, family and friends always looked forward to spending time and making lasting memories with them at their cottage on the lake.

He was known for his wonderfully dry sense of humor and wit, as all his friends and family knew well. He was kind and generous, supporting many charities. He loved animals, especially his dogs. Trains were a lifelong passion for him and he travelled many times by train across the US as well as abroad. Halloween was another of his passions and his family's "Spookhouse" in their cellar was renowned. There was even an article about this written by Harry Reasoner in the Saturday Evening Post.

Andrew lived with integrity, kindness, and wisdom. He had a strong interest in people all over the world, in education, and in justice. He loved books, music, and paid attention to world events. He and Janet had many great friendships, some that lasted decades. He was a fine example of how to live an extraordinary and meaningful life.

He is survived by his wife of 76 years Janet, children Susan, Thomas and his wife Jennifer, and Sarah, her husband Carlos Paulino, 3 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Saugatuck Congregational Church 245 Post Road East, Westport, CT on Saturday June 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent to the Homes with Hope Gillespie Center Shelter in Westport, CT or to Saugatuck Congregational Church.