Albert William Neu was born on 10 February 1926 in Madison, Wisconsin to Bert and Catherine (Springman) Neu. He was one of seven children, six brothers and one sister. His primary and secondary education was under the care of the Dominican Sisters of the Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary (Sinsinawa, Wisconsin) who staffed Blessed Sacrament Grammar School in his home parish. In 1944 he graduated from Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart. During his high school years, he worked part time at Blessed Sacrament Parish and Priory, which was a parish and community of the Dominican Friars. He assisted with janitorial duties and later worked on the front desk answering the phone and door and helping with record keeping for the parish. After high school he experienced some health issues but was able to continue working at the church. He eventually lived at the priory for a few years as a regular Third Order Brother.

Discerning his vocation to become a cooperator brother, he entered the Novitiate for the Province of Saint Albert the Great on 5 October 1952 and received the habit at Saint Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota and given the religious name, Reginald. One year later, he professed simple vows there on 6 October 1953. As a cooperator brother, Brother Reginald's first assignment was as Secretary to the Regent of Studies in River Forest, Illinois at the Dominican House of Studies. In 1955, he returned home to Madison, Wisconsin and Blessed Sacrament Parish where he was secretary and porter until 1957, when he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana and served Saint Anthony of Padua Parish as assistant business manager and porter. The following year, he was assigned to Saint Rose Priory, the new Dominican house of studies in Dubuque, Iowa, where he was a tailor for five years. The province had a mission in Bolivia for about ten years at which time Brother Reginald was asked to join the brothers on this foreign mission and was assigned to Santa Cruz, Bolivia where he worked for the next twenty-seven years as a chaplain with youth and directed a variety of programs.

In 1994 he returned to Chicago and worked in the priories as tailor and sacristan, mostly at Saint Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinois. As his health and aging slowed him down, he moved to the assisted living community at Saint Pius V Priory in Chicago in 2002 where he continued to assist in the chapel and around the priory. He loved Advent and Christmas and would spend hours decorating the chapel, dining room and recreation room. His hobby was gardening, and he maintained a roof top garden at Saint Pius that was in full bloom all Spring, Summer and Fall.

As his health failed and it was no longer possible to care for him at Saint Pius Priory, he was transferred to Resurrection Life Center in February 2015. There he celebrated his 90th birthday on 10 February 2016. Brother Reginald enjoyed paint-by-number and other crafts. He had an art show of his paintings at the nursing home for all to enjoy. Eventually he grew weaker and was no longer able to do even the little things he enjoyed. He died peacefully on 20 October 2016 at Resurrection Life Center.

Brother Reginald was survived by his sister, Joan Schimming, who attended his funeral, and brothers, Jerry and John Neu and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Donald, Robert, and Richard Neu. Services were held at Saint Vincent Ferrer Church in River Forest, Illinois on Thursday, 27 October 2016. Mass of Christian Burial began at 10:00AM preceded by Sung Morning Prayer at 9:00AM. Father Michail Ford, O.P., subprior in capite of Saint Pius V Priory, presided, and Father Louis Morrone, O.P., Socius and Vicar Provincial preached. Funeral arrangements were handled by Smith- Corcoran Funeral Home. He was buried in the Dominican Section at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois.