Neil Chayet

Born in Boston, he was the son of the late Judge Ely Chayet and Blanche (Poretsky) Chayet. Neil lived in the Boston area his entire life, most recently at the Joseph Story House, a National Historic Landmark in Salem MA.

Neil is perhaps best known for his legendary radio program “Looking at the Law™” heard locally on WBZ 1030 AM in Boston. For 42 years, he wrote and broadcast 10,350 scripts and the program aired daily on CBS Radio stations around the country, and around the world on the Armed Forces Network. Neil retired from CBS in June 2017 due to his illness.

A graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School, Neil remained active in Alumni activities for both Alma matres. He served as Tufts Trustee and more recently on the Faculty at the Cummings Tufts Vet School and on the Board of the Tufts Tisch College. At Harvard Law School, Neil served the Alumni Association as Past President of the Massachusetts chapter, and as a founder and past Co-Chair of the Senior Advisory Network, as well as the Dean’s Advisory Council. In addition, Neil had been a member of the Faculty at Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry at McLean Hospital for 30 years.

A sought-after public speaker, Neil delivered countless speeches and lectures over decades of work in the field of law and medicine. More recently his work focused on resisting and avoiding conflict in daily life. He lectured extensively on the topic for civic, academic and non-profit organizations, including Cummings Tufts Veterinary School. This was the theme of his commencement address last year at Salem State University where he received honorary degree. Neil developed a 13 week curriculum entitled “Conflict, New Ways of Thinking About Life’s Challenges” for an undergraduate course he taught through the Tufts ExCollege last Spring.

His legal and consulting work was predominantly in the area of law and medicine, having pioneered the field in the early 70’s. Neil developed a specialty in addressing complex controversies through the formation of deep coalitions.

Neil’s numerous positions on boards include Massport Security Advisory Council, the Board of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Science, Mass Inc, USS Constitution and the Philips Library at the Peabody Essex Museum.

Neil loved “messing around with boats” and proudly owned one of the oldest Hinckley sloops in the country, “Breeze”, built by Henry Hinckley in 1946 and kept at his mooring in Manchester Harbor. It was on his DownEast style power boat, “Sooner”, that he and his wife Martha cruised the New England waters with the Manchester Yacht Club. Neil also enjoyed independent travel, and with his wife Martha, visited countries around the world, always with itineraries focused on history, culture, food and the world’s religions.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Martha Chayet, and two sons, Michael R. Chayet of Weston CT and Ely Todd Chayet of Calabasas CA, and by his daughter, Lisa Chayet Sahlberg of Raymond ME, formerly of Duxbury. Also his daughters-in-law, Julie Min Chayet and Kathy Lyon Chayet, and son-in-law, Jon Sahlberg. And five grandchildren: Max, Hannah, and Sarah Chayet, Brett and Linnea Sahlberg. Also his sister Jayne Olken of Scottsdale AZ and her daughters, his nieces, Stephanie Pullman and Eliza Olken. Also, Susan Mullen Chayet, the mother of his sons and daughter.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Anna Farago and the team at the Massachusetts General Hospital along with many caregivers and medical professionals who helped Neil through his short but vigorous battle with small cell cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests remembrance gifts may be made “In Memory of Neil Chayet” in support of Small Cell Cancer Research, and sent to the MGH Development Office, attention: Carrie Powers, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114 (or online at https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/)

Services will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 at Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead, Rabbi David Meyer officiating. Arrangements are by Stanetsky Hymanson Memorial Chapel in Salem MA.