Carl Henry Neu, 80, Former Securities Counselor Who Provided Well For His Family

Carl Henry Neu is remembered by his family as a good provider - of material comforts and cherished memories.

The former securities counselor provided his wife and children with material comforts, including a boat and waterfront home in Seattle's Laurelhurst neighborhood. He also gave them "roughing-it" holiday ski vacations at a cabin on White Pass and considerable freedom to be themselves.

"He was the wonderful provider - took care of us all and allowed us to do the things we wanted to do at our own pace," said his daughter, Christie Caldwell of Ventura, Calif.

Mr. Neu had been captain of the University of Washington ski team and won many regional ski awards, including the Pacific Northwest Ski Association trophy in 1938.

"Although he had some talents of his own, he let us discover the talents we had," Caldwell said. "We didn't start racing until we were older."

Mr. Neu died last Saturday (May 8) of complications of diabetes. He was 80.

Born in Seattle, Mr. Neu graduated from Queen Anne High School. His education included spending a year in Europe, where his father, a doctor, had a job and relatives.

While earning a bachelor's degree in business at the UW in the late 1930s, Mr. Neu competed on the varsity ski team and captured several slalom skiing titles at Sun Valley.

He served as a captain in the Army Air Force in World War II.

After the war, he began working in the securities business. He was with Blyth & Co. for 21 years.

"He would get in to the office about 8 or 9 in the morning," said his daughter. "That was the old way, the gentlemanly way they did investment work. But when Blyth merged with another firm, and it wanted him to come in at 6 a.m. to more closely coincide with the market openings on the East Coast, he said, `No way, I haven't come in that early in all the years I've been working, and I'm not going to start doing that now.' "

He moved to what became Piper Jaffray& Hopwood. He worked there the next 20 years, retiring in 1990.

He was around long enough to see the effect computers were having in the investment world.

"He embraced the computer era, and it worked well for him," said his daughter. "He said, `Those computers can do so much. I think they could bake a cake.' "

Also surviving are his sons, Carl Neu Jr. and Tom Neu, both of Seattle; his sister, Julianna Felt, Seattle, and six grandchildren. His wife of 54 years, Mary Ann Neu, died in 1997.

There will be a memorial reception at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at Broadmoor Golf Club, 2340 Broadmoor Drive E., Seattle. Donations may go to any charity.

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is: cbeers@seattletimes.com