Neil B. Prenn

Neil had a spirit of adventure and optimism he followed throughout his life. He was one of the youngest 80 year-olds you’d ever meet. He never spoke a bad word about anyone and he always had a smile on his face. Friends describe Neil as generous, modest, soft-spoken, reserved, trustworthy, dependable, hard-working, confident and uncompromising in ethics. He could also be lovingly eccentric. He will be profoundly missed.

Neil passed away after a short battle with cancer on Nov. 14, 2023. He was born on Dec. 7, 1942 in Manhattan, New York but his family moved to the hills above Los Angeles when he was young. He developed his lifelong interests in the outdoors, natural resources, and minerals early in life and pursued those in a career as a mining engineer. Neil graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with an Engineer of Mines degree in 1967. His first employer was a large mining company based in Los Angeles. They had him evaluate projects in many locations, domestic and international. His experience at operating mines came in California, Nevada, Idaho, and Tucson where he worked at the Pima Copper Mine for 3 years. He spent the rest of his life in a career that took him to six continents working on countless projects and he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. His sense of adventure was put to good use traveling to remote and wild places.

Neil’s interest in collecting mineral specimens was formed early and he pursued that eagerly as a lifelong student of mineralogy and an enthusiastic collector. Along with minerals he collected mining artifacts; cap tins, ore buckets and dynamite boxes. Living in Tucson afforded Neil many opportunities for mineral collecting at world-class localities. It was there he developed many friendships with like-minded serious collectors with whom he collected and collaborated until his last days. That also cemented his annual trek to Tucson for the world’s largest gem and mineral show every February at which he entered competitive and educational displays until his last one in 2023.

Neil’s career took him to Colorado and then Nevada where he managed a mine in the Big Smoky Valley, a remote spot he dearly loved. He met his future wife, Cami, while in Colorado and they married in 1982, first living in remote Nevada and eventually settling in Reno. Neil and Cami started Mine Development Associates (MDA), a mining engineering and geology consulting company, in 1987. MDA grew slowly and steadily, never intending to become a big company. They built a close-knit group of skilled professionals with intelligence and integrity who became a family. All made a positive mark on MDA. Projects spanned the globe across six continents for all sizes of companies, from the smallest of junior exploration companies to the largest mining companies. MDA was sold in 2019 with Neil and Cami staying for a transitional period.

Neil retired last year but kept an office at MDA and spent most days there until July when he was diagnosed. His last venture was researching all facets of the mineral quartz with the intention of writing a book. He was an avid racquetball player, switching to pickleball when gyms shut down and he developed solid friendships on the courts. He loved cribbage and played weekly with a local group. He also played poker monthly with a special group of colleagues. He had a passion for photography, his favorite subjects being sunsets, wildlife, flowers and birds. Neil and Cami loved to travel, Africa being one of their favorite destinations. Among their treasured trips were tulip time in Amsterdam, countless beach vacations with a close group of friends, and an epic trip to Alaska, crossing the distances in a small plane. Their next adventure was to have been Patagonia. The hole Neil is leaving behind is deep and he will be profoundly missed.

Appreciation goes to the Renown Oncology group, especially Dr. Thomas, Dr. Dieringer and nurse Kirsti O. The entire oncology staff showed us extreme kindness. Renown Hospice also gave great care and comfort in the final days. Numerous friends and family have shown us such love and kindness; a wonderful reminder to do likewise and pay it forward.

If you wish to make a donation, a scholarship in Mining Engineering has been set up at the Colorado School of Mines in Neil’s name. (Colorado School of Mines Foundation, P.O. Box 912031, Denver, CO 80291-2031, Memo; in memory of Neil Prenn). Donations can also go to the Tonopah Historic Mining Park where he was on the Board of Directors and Neil’s collection of Nevada mineral specimens resides. (TonopahMiningPark.com/general-donations) A memorial will be held at a later date.

The family invites you to share memories and condolences in Neil’s Book of Memories at www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com.