INDIANAPOLIS — Longtime Indiana Senator Dennis Neary has died at age 80.
According to a press release distributed by his family, Neary passed peacefully at his Carmel home on Monday.
Neary was a member of the Indiana Senate from 1976-92. From 1988-92 he was Democratic Caucus Chair.
Neary had deep roots in the democratic party both nationally and locally. According to House Concurrent Resolution 25, which was published in February 2014 to recognize the senator’s career of public service, Neary served as LaPorte County chairman for Robert Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1968.
Kennedy’s campaign eventually asked Neary to join them in California. Neary declined the opportunity, citing his teaching responsibilities. Neary was a teacher at Long Beach High School in Northwest Indiana for more than 20 years.
After his career in the senate, Neary served as the Director of Legislative and Political Affairs for the Indiana Health Care Association for more than 15 years. He was also appointed Chairman of the Education and Labor Relations Board by former Indiana Gov. Frank O’Bannon.
Neary was chairman of the ELRB from 2000-05. He was later named Vice President of the Minority Health Coalition.
In 2022, Neary received Indiana’s prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash — an award designed to recognize those who have dedicated a lifetime of service to the State of Indiana.
Politics were in Neary’s blood before he ever stepped foot in the Indiana Statehouse. His maternal grandfather was a councilman in Ottawa, Illinois, in the early 1900s, and his father was a La Porte city councilman for 16 years. HCR25 says Neary and his siblings even walked precincts for their father’s campaign.
Neary grew up in northern Indiana, attending Saint Joseph Elementary School and La Porte High School. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in history from Murray State while he attended the school on a baseball scholarship. Neary went on to get a master’s degree in education from Indiana University South Bend.
Per HCR25, Neary was born in February 1944. He was the first of his 14 siblings to be born in a hospital — Holy Family Hospital in La Porte.
HCR25 also says Neary was willing to work with politicians on both sides of the aisle, maintaining friendships with both Republicans and Democrats. The resolution even highlights that Neary married a lifelong California Republican who was also raised in a political family.
Neary is survived by his wife Suzan, his sons Robert and Ryan, his daughters Abbey, Katelyn and Savannah and six grandchildren.
To read more about Neary, check out HCR25 here.
