On May 5, 2024, in Houston, Texas, Neil Goldman, Ph.D z”l (born on October 21, 1941 in The Bronx, NY), passed away peacefully at the age of 82. Neil was predeceased by his soulmate Sally, of whom he was the loving husband of 55 years. He is survived by his sons Alec Harold, Noah Harley, and Adam Laurence; grandchildren Joel, Dylan, Eli, Asher and Camille.
Neil grew up in an apartment at East 169th Street and Grant Avenue in the Bronx and attended Taft High School, where he was awarded The Rensselaer Medal. He obtained his B.S. from the City College of New York in Physics and then travelled to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he obtained his M.S. in Mathematics. After studying at the University of California at Davis, where he spent time driving his Triumph TR4 on the rally racing circuit, Neil returned to New York City where he met Sally. They married on December 30, 1967, only ten weeks after they began dating. Afterwards, they moved to Troy, then Clifton Park, and then Schenectady, New York, where they had their three sons and resided for 12 years. In 1982 Neil received his Ph.D in Theoretical Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute while he simultaneously worked full time as a high school physics and math teacher at Mohonansen High School. Later that year, Neil and his family moved to Santa Barbara, California where Neil worked as a defense contractor for Mission Research Corporation analyzing electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects of atomic weapons. In 1987, Neil and the family relocated to Northern Virginia where he continued his work on EMP effects. In the mid-1990s Neil founded his own business focusing on biophysics and light therapy, where he patented a novel fiber optic technology to shift the human circadian cycle. Afterwards, Neil returned to teaching, first at Samuel Gompers High School in the Bronx, and then for over 15 years as a professor of mathematics and physics at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia; a position he held until he was 80 years old. In 2022, Neil and Sally retired to Houston, Texas.
Neil was truly a renaissance man who equally enjoyed subjects from theater and literature to sports and science fiction movies, all of which fed his passion for the New York Times crossword puzzle. Neil had an uncanny ability to make close friends no matter their background and no matter where he lived, especially in the New York City, Schenectady, Santa Barbara, Washington, DC, Norwalk, CT, and Houston vicinities. Neil always provided for his family and was truly the definition of a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and father-in-law.
A funeral will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 1:00p.m. at Forest Park-The Woodlands Cemetery, located at 18000 I-45 South, The Woodlands, Texas 77384. In lieu of flowers, donations in Neil’s name would be greatly appreciated to Congregation Beth Shalom of the Woodlands, Texas and Congregation Beth El in Norwalk, CT. Shiva will be observed at family members’ residences in The Woodlands, TX, Norwalk, CT, and Bangkok, Thailand.
May his memory be, and forever remain, a blessing to all who knew him. זיכרונו לברכה
Shiva will be observed at the Goldman's home, 19 Sunbeam Place, The Woodlands, 77381:
Thursday, May 9, immediately following the service until 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 11, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 12, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Monday, May 13, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 14, 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.levyfuneraldirectors.com for the Goldman family.
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