The John J. Neary Foundation was established in October of 2023 in honor of John J. Neary, who passed away on January 24th, 2023, after a year-long battle with Covid. Throughout his life and career in Hospitality, John had always helped others in so many different ways while working as Head Concierge at New York City's elegant Carlyle Hotel , serving as President of Les Clefs d’Or, and co-founding the NYC Association of Hotel Concierges.

  In 1968, John graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Sociology. While at the university, he studied French, a skill that would prove useful in his future career. John also became a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War. By his own account, his army career lasted three years, eight months, seventeen days, five hours, and sixteen minutes. Once honorably discharged, Lieutenant Neary chose acting and playwriting as his next mission in life. Over the next few years, he appeared in many theater productions (both dramas and comedies), as well as acting in multiple Woody Allen movies.

 John's favorite and most enduring role, however, had been that of venerable Chief Concierge at The Carlyle. In his spare time - at least in pre-presidential days, when he had spare time - he enjoyed playing the jazz piano, sailing, and jogging around his Upper West Side neighborhood. After retiring, John moved to Chicago where he spent the remaining years of his life.

  We formed this foundation to honor John and keep his legacy alive, but also to continue his work: to serve and help people, and to hopefully make a difference in their lives .