Cornelius "Neal" James Barton, age 88, of Redding, passed away peacefully after an extended illness at Danbury Hospital on July 12, 2024. He was the beloved husband of Carolyn (Pratt) Barton. Neal was an American metallurgical engineer, businessman and the acting president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from April 1998 until July 1999.

Born on March 28, 1936 in Mt. Kisco, New York he was a son of the late Francis Xavier and Rhoda Louise Dietz Barton. Neal received Bachelor's, Master's and Ph.D. degrees in metallurgical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He was a member of the engineering honor society Sigma Xi and was a brother of the Delta Phi social fraternity. After his undergraduate work, from 1958 to 1961, he was employed as a Metallurgical Process Engineer at United Nuclear Corporation, which manufactured nuclear reactor cores for the U.S. Navy. There Neal met his future wife, Carolyn, they were married February 1, 1964. He returned to R.P.I. for graduate work in Engineering and upon earning an M.S. and Ph.D. in metallurgical engineering, he joined US Steel's Research Laboratory in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. He worked as a research manager in the Advanced Applied Research Division. While at U.S.S., Neal authored several research papers in refereed journals, submitted patent applications for novel steel compositions, and completed a project sponsored by the U. S. Air Force for improvements and problem solving in a complex high-strength, high-performance family of steels.

Neal then joined the Chase Brass & Copper Co. in 1969 as Director of Research and Development. From 1975 to 1980, he was General Manager of Chase Nuclear Inc. In 1981, he returned to Chase Headquarters in Shaker Heights, Ohio, to serve as Vice President, Technology, of Kennecott Engineered Systems Co., (KESCO). In 1986, Neal was appointed President of Dorr Oliver in Connecticut, Dorr Oliver was an International Corporation with 16 subsidiaries in Europe, Asia, North and South America and Licensees in Japan and South Africa. Barton retired as President after more than twelve years in that position. Neal was a member of the Rensselaer Board of Trustees, as an active trustee, from May 1991 through December 2012, and subsequently a trustee emeritus. Barton Hall, a residence hall on the R.P.I. campus that opened in 2000, was named in Neal's honor.

Neal is survived by his wife of 60 years Carolyn, his daughter Kathleen and her husband Brian Conway, son Michael and his wife Shari Barton, son Terence Barton, and daughter Ila Barton. His grandchildren Keira, Meghan, Clare, Brian Jr., Tanner, Alex and his wife Eman, and Lucas. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Peter and his sister Frances.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick Church, 169 Black Rock Turnpike, Redding CT 06896. Friends may greet the family prior to the funeral service from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Bouton Funeral Home, 31 West Church Street, Georgetown (Wilton) CT 06829. Burial will be held privately in Vermont. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Gifts Processing Center, P.O. Box 3164, Boston MA 02241 https://giving.rpi.edu/. To offer online condolences and to share memories please visit  http://www.boutonfuneralhome.com