By Luke Voogt
A man who helped shape Geelong watched at home as his beloved Cats demolished the Giants before dying peacefully in his sleep.
Geoff Neilson spent his final moments in happiness, son Tim told friends and family at Geoff’s funeral last Friday.
“The Geelong players certainly didn’t know it but they made his last evening on earth a very enjoyable one,” Tim said.
Donald Geoffrey Neilson, 88, died of natural causes on 4 May in an aged care home at Newtown.
But he left a legacy as a leading businessman and benefactor in Geelong, and a key figure in the founding of Deakin University in the 1970s.
Tim described his father as a humble sportsman, who had a lifelong passion for music and St David’s Church in Newtown.
He won two cricket premierships but “never claimed to be one of the stars of the team,” Tim said.
“By remarkable coincidence father hit the winning runs in (the first) premiership … and took the match-winning catch in the (second).”
But footy was Geoff’s sporting forte and he fell just short of the Geelong Football Club’s senior side after playing in the reserves.
He never stopped following the Cats, Tim said.
Geoff’s daughter Heather Neilson also spoke at the funeral, describing him as “the finest man I had ever known.”
As a “Protestant gentleman“ Geoff was generous and serene but hardworking and disciplined, she said.
“In 58 years, whatever pain or provocation he suffered, I never once heard him swear – not once – nor ever say a spiteful thing about anyone.
“He could express criticism, yes, but never with spite.”
Geoff began his career as a junior clerk in his father’s and uncle’s accountancy firm, Nielson and Nielson, in 1948.
He excelled in the finance industry before becoming president of the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1980.
For decades Geoff served on Deakin University’s council, becoming deputy chancellor in 1996 for two years before retiring.
He also helped found the Geelong Community Foundation and Marcus Oldham Agricultural College.
Geoff served on the councils of various local colleges, which came to value his astute financial management, according to a Geelong College historical page.
He was a life member of Geelong Chamber of Commerce and president of both Geelong YMCA and Geelong Rotary Club.
