Obituary of Neil M. Silverman

Neil M. Silverman, 76, of Freehold Township passed away on November 8, 2023, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, after a little over a year of battling pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, Susan, his daughter, Jaycie, and his sister Susan Beth.

Neil was born on January 25, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York and grew up there with his sister and parents, Simon and Phyllis. He was a whiz with numbers and went on to study business and finance in college. He spent his working years as a financial advisor and after retirement, continued work in his own tax preparation company.

In September 2022, Neil was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. For anyone unaware of the aggressiveness of this type of cancer, here is putting it into perspective; Only 12.5% of people survive 5 or more years after their diagnosis. Everyone had to come to terms with the fact that we’d be in for a long ride and an exhausting one, not just physically but mentally too. Even after everything that was thrown his way, Neil continued to fight back as hard as he could time and time again.

In October 2022, he had a surgery done in hope to get rid of the cancer. Shortly following the surgery, he began chemotherapy treatments and to conclude his chemo, he completed 31 days of radiation. Through this time, no matter how bad the situation might’ve been, he continued to fight with everything he had. In June of 2023, we were fortunate to receive the news that his scans came back clear. The high feeling behind those scans would fade, as within the next few months, the cancer would come back. Now today, in November, a year and two months after his diagnosis, Neil unfortunately would lose his fight with this horrible disease.

The main thing about our Neiler was that he was always there, whether he was present there or sitting in his famous blue recliner in front of his huge flatscreen, he was always there. It just simply is going to be so hard getting used to him not being there.          

Through this last year, Neil would be referred to as a “patient” as he spent many hours in a variety of health care settings. And yes, he was one, and yes, his day-to-day life was taken over by his health, but Neil was so much more than what his last years of life represented, being a patient. He was a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, and a friend. He was smart, knowledgeable, a book worm, and the biggest Yankee fan and baseball lover. He ran the New York City Marathon, he loved music, he was an amazing photographer, and could add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers in seconds.

He fought so hard to combat the terribleness of this disease, and we all just wish there was more we could’ve done. Neil, we will miss you dearly, you truly were one of a kind. Now after this long, exhausting, and hard year, you can finally be at peace, as I am sure you found a comfy recliner and a huge TV, one perfect to watch the Yankees game on.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 11:00 AM graveside service at Marlboro Memorial Park on Friday, November 10, 2023. All arrangements were made by Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township. For information or to leave condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com