Michael McNeilly

Michael A. McNeilly, 66, formerly of Whitefish, died suddenly Oct. 30, 2005, at his home in Menlo Park, Calif.

He was born March 7, 1939, in Whitefish, to John C. and Josephine A. McNeilly. He graduated from Whitefish High School in 1957.

Michael married Patti Patterson, of Havre, in 1960 and moved to Spokane, Wash. Michael graduated from Gonzaga University in 1964 with a B.S. in chemistry. After graduation he went to work for Union Carbide, which took them to the Bay Area. He left Union Carbide to be a part of a small start-up company, Apogee Chemical.

In 1967, around the kitchen table of the family home, the idea for Applied Materials was born. Michael was a pioneer of the semiconductor industry. He remained CEO and president of Applied Materials until 1978, when he retired and moved to Sun Valley, Idaho, to pursue his love of the outdoors. He loved to ski, rock climb, play tennis, fly his plane and ride his bicycle.

Most of all, he loved his family and friends, including his dogs. He adored his daughters Michelle and Aimee, and his grandchildren.

Michael is survived by his daughter Michelle Tudor and husband, Doug, of San Diego; daughter Aimee Arroyo and husband Steven, of San Diego; grandchildren Jacob, Joseph and Lola; brother Neil McNeilly, of Kalispell; and many friends.

Services were held Nov. 12, 2005, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Los Gatos, Calif.