MARION — Geoffrey Neal needed something to keep himself busy in his retirement.

A Marion resident, Neal worked as a cabin crew member on flights to Europe and within the United States for American Airlines from 1976 to 2021. 

During layovers in places like Lisbon, London and San Francisco to name a few, Neal took photographs. He had previously studied French and Spanish as well as photography at the University of Virginia, learning in the process that he loved travel and photography.

“I got to wander all around and find these incredible places,” he said.

Earlier this year, Neal decided to share some of those captured moments — by selling his photographs as cards.

“It's never too late to attempt something,” he said.

Neal, 74, said he thinks there is a place for cards, even in today’s world of electronic communication.

“I know from my own experience that people love to get a pretty card in the mail, but it's almost equally rewarding to me to send a pretty card because I'm imagining the friend or family member opening a card,” he said.

Neal’s photographs depict a head-on view of Canal San Marco in Venice, a windmill in southern France and Zurich’s Old Town area under a navy blue sky, among nearly 40 other photo cards.

Some of the pictures are currently on display at Fieldstone Market in Marion and Kenny’s Garden Center in Fairhaven. They can also be purchased at an online Etsy store called Europa Photo Cards.

Within the 44 years Neal traveled to Europe and the United States for American Airlines and the countless photographs captured along the way, it was a particular 10 minutes that are the likely highlight of his career.

In 2015, Neal served on the crew that transported Pope Francis on flights during a visit to the United States. The plane was filled with FBI, Secret Service and media personnel, according to Neal.

“It was quite a thing, but everything worked out great,” Neal said.

At a certain point, crew members had the opportunity to meet with the Pope. Each person had three minutes, Neal said.

When it was Neal’s turn, he sat down next to Pope Francis and conversed with him for ten, he said. They spoke in Spanish.

“He loved that,” Neal said.

For Neal, his “startup business” of selling photography is both about sharing what he’s done and re-establishing the photo card, what with its ability to brighten the day of the receiver and sender.

It’s a hobby to “spread the joy I think that cards can bring,” he said.