Alfred Neufeld (1921 – 2014)

We who know Al Neufeld are immeasurably fortunate to have had him in our lives, as we’ll always feel, drawing on the richness of his 93 years. He died peacefully on May 7, 2014.

Now, in his absence, the radiance of his love fills the hearts and minds of his wife, Harriet Brickman; his children—Leslie Barley Schulsinger (husband, Bill), Marcia Buono Pennock, David Neufeld (wife, Lisa Braiterman), Rob Neufeld (wife, Bev Robertson), Lawrence Neufeld, and Nancy Sutton (husband, Paul); Al’s nieces, nephews, in-laws, step-children, and grandchildren; and the many admirers who had come within his sphere.

He is the last of his children’s parents’ generation; and joins, in the constellation of departed spirits, his late wife, Rena Silver Neufeld, married 1949-1987; parents, Nathan and Esther Neufeld; sisters, Gertrude Albury (husband, Samuel Albury) and Muriel Jacoby (husband, Al Jacoby); in-laws, Esther and Samuel Silver; brother-in-law, Irwin Silver (his wives, Anne Marie Baron Silver and Jean Taylor Silver); Al’s first wife, Dorothy Cohen, mother of Leslie; his grandson, Ian Esperian; his nephew Michael Jacoby; and his nephew, Samuel Silver.

Alfred’s parents had made the journey from Transylvania, then part of Hungary, and established a community-supporting grocery store in Manhattan. Born Jan. 3, 1921, second child of three, Al’s optimism, social joy, gentleness, skills, humor, intolerance of injustice, love of anything lively, and defiance of bureaucratic dumbing-down propelled him through a brilliant youthful academic career; the Depression; a host of skilled technical jobs; service in World War II; post-war idealism and fears; the raising of a family of lovers of irony, pathos, and independence; a long career as a book compositor; caring for a wife who became ill; financial downturn; a new career as an accountant; marriage to his companion-to-the-end, with whom he moved to Maine and explored the country in a pick-up truck with a camper shell; and nearly three decades of lionized life in Temple and Farmington, Maine, embraced by a community that values genuineness and kindness.

The memories of and stories about Al are legion. The man who may not have achieved the world-beating expectations of his youth has engendered a legacy of glowing examples of heartfulness to rival any resume. Though he never had riches, he gave unselfishly.

In addition to wife, Harriet, Al’s six children, and their spouses, those surviving him are: grandchildren Lacye Barley and Heidi Barley Wimberg; Christopher Buono and Brian Buono; Henry Neufeld and Nathan Neufeld; and Simon Neufeld; great-grandchildren Maura Schmidt and Harper Wimberg; and Bryan Collier, Mia Buono, Elizabeth “Ella” Buono, Nicolette Buono, and William Buono; stepchildren Lee Brickman (wife, Nanci), Linda Rosenthal (husband, Paul), and Ira Brickman, and their children—Michael and Stephen Brickman; Shaina, Brian, and Daniel Rosenthal; and Brianna Brickman, for whom Al was grandpa; niece Pat Jacoby Leavitt; nephew Fredrick Albury; and nephew and nieces Mitchell Silver, Monique Silver, and Janine Silver.

Al will also be greatly missed by his longtime caregiver and friend, Anni Sweetwater; and by the Farmington community.