Neptune Society

The Neptune Society, Inc. is a national provider of cremation services and one of the largest publicly traded cremation companies in the United States. Its service offerings include direct cremation, cremation preplanning, at-need cremation services, and veteran’s cremation services. Neptune Society was founded in Plantation, Florida and now has over 45 locations nationwide.^[1] It is primarily known for its two nationally recognized final resting places: the Neptune Society Columbarium in San Francisco, California, and the Neptune Memorial Reef near Key Biscayne, Florida.

History

Neptune Society was established in 1973 and was incorporated in 1985. It now operates as a subsidiary of Service Corporation International. The company has assisted families with cremation planning for over 40 years.^[2] In 1999, Neptune Society announced its completion of equity financing of $7 million with Standard Securities Capital Corp. in Toronto and appointed Marco Markin as president and chief executive.^[3] In 2000, the company announced it had acquired the Cremation Society of Iowa^[4] and registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange.^[5] In 2003, it was reported that an $11.5 million deal proposed by the firm of Walt Disney’s great-nephew to buy Neptune Society was called off.^[6]

Neptune Memorial Reef

The Neptune Memorial Reef is an underwater memorial 3.25 miles off the coast of Key Biscayne, Florida, where families can have the cremated ashes of their loved ones interred. Neptune's burial at sea involves mixing cremated remains into concrete for a sturdy and secure final resting place. Spanning 16 acres, the memorial is one of the largest man-made reefs in the world. The EPA and a number of other national organizations approved construction on the reef according to predetermined guidelines and regulations. The reef is a popular destination for divers, tourists, and families disposing of or visiting their family members' remains.

Neptune Society Columbarium

The Neptune Society Columbarium of San Francisco is an architectural landmark in San Francisco and is the city's only nondenominational public burial space. The columbarium was built in 1898 by architect Bernard J.S. Cahill and is currently operated and maintained by the Neptune Society of Northern California. The copper-domed, Neo-Classical structure houses more than 8,500 niches for cremation urns. The building was designated as a San Francisco city landmark in 1996.

Controversies

There have been reported controversies surrounding the Neptune Society brand over the years. In the late 1990s, the company settled lawsuits from the widow of a former Burbank mayor^[7] and 308 Southern California residents who claimed their loved ones’ remains were mishandled.^[8] In 2001, the Funeral Consumers Alliance, a consumer watchdog group, cited incidents of pricing scams and mailed letters of concern to the Federal Trade Commission regarding Neptune Society’s practices.^[9]

In November 2013, residents of East Oakland and members of Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) gathered around the Neptune Society office on Grand Avenue to protest the planned construction of a new crematory that would accommodate 3,000 deceased individuals. Opposition was primarily driven by environmental concerns.^[10] However, writing an opinion piece on SFGate.com, Chip Johnson pointed to job creation and other possible benefits of the crematory. Arguing against claims that the crematory would negatively affect the environment, he wrote: “The Neptune Society followed the law. It was the City Council that made it up as it went along, rewriting the law to serve its own ends. The council's position is not supported by legal or scientific findings of the project.”^[11]

Despite the controversies, several Neptune Society locations have maintained an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, including the headquarters in Plantation, Florida,^[12] Neptune Society of Orange County,^[13] Neptune Society of Central California,^[14] and Neptune Society of Northern California.^[15]

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