Neal Stephen Schiff

Neal Stephen Schiff, age 77, passed peacefully on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at The Fairfax at Belvoir Woods in Fort Belvoir, VA. Neal succumbed after a four-month, hard-fought battle with the aftereffects of COVID that accentuated and aggravated several pre-existing conditions.

Neal was born May 7, 1946, in New York City to Arthur and Dorothy “Dina” (nee Stein) Schiff. Neal’s parents were children of immigrants born in Russia. He is predeceased by both parents, as well as his brother, Lawrence Harvey Schiff. Neal is survived by his loving, dedicated wife of nearly 30 years, Linda Carol Habenstreit. His two nephews, Elliott Schiff and Wayne Schiff (wife Stacey), and his sister-in-law, Rosalie G. Schiff. Neal was blessed to have many friends from all corners of the United States. These friends and many others, including Linda’s family, will help hold Linda up during this difficult time.

In the early 1950s, Neal’s family moved from the Bronx, NY, to Allentown, PA, where Neal’s parents opened Arthur’s Variety Store at 527 North 7th Street. The store closed in the late 1950s due to competition from Sears, Roebuck, the department store, that opened nearby.

Neal attended Stevens Elementary School from 1951-1958, serving at one time as the “Stevens Star” puzzle editor. From 1958-1961, Neal attended Central Junior High School. His parents attended the Congregation Sons of Israel synagogue on Tilghman Avenue, where Neal received his bar mitzvah in 1959. From 1961-1964, Neal attended Louis E. Dieruff High School. He loved basketball and served for three years as Dieruff Huskies basketball manager under the tutelage of Coach Dick Schmidt, a Dieruff basketball icon, whom Neal admired greatly.

After high school, Neal joined the U.S. Air Force. He was assigned to Glasgow Air Force Base in Glasgow, MT, where he made life-long friends. He served as an inventory management specialist and reached the rank of Sergeant. In preparation for the base closing, Neal was released from active duty in June 1968.

With the money he saved during his military service and financial assistance through the G.I. Bill, Neal attended Grahm Junior College in Boston, MA, from 1968-1970. From his dormitory room, he could see the famous Citgo sign and glimpse Fenway Park. Neal loved his time in Boston, made more life-long friends, and became a Celtics fan. He graduated with a two-year degree in mass communications.

Thus began Neal’s 40-year career in radio and broadcasting. Neal knew this was what he wanted to do since the age of eight when he saw a local sports reporter doing his job at a basketball game his father took him to. From 1970-1976, Neal was a radio news/sports broadcaster and/or disc jockey at WEEX, Easton, PA; Twin County Cable, Allentown, PA; WAEB, Allentown, PA; WAVZ, New Haven, CT; and WTRN, Tyrone, PA.

In 1976, Neal and his first wife, Virginia (nee Maisano), moved to the Washington, DC, metropolitan area to work at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). During this time, he also worked part-time as a disc jockey at the WEEL. Neal and Virginia divorced in 1979. Neal moved to Florida where he worked as a news director, news anchor, assignment editor, and/or reporter at WAIV/WOKV, Jacksonville, FL; WIOD, Miami, FL; WINZ, Miami, FL; and WNWS, Miami, FL.

On a trip to Washington, DC, in 1987, Neal learned of a position in the FBI’s Office of Public Affairs as the writer, editor, producer, and radio host of the “FBI, This Week” broadcast. Neal was hired for the position and finetuned the show into a one-minute public affairs program that began airing on ABC radio affiliates across the country on September 21, 1990. The show provided a window into which the public could learn about the wide-ranging responsibilities of the FBI and how it impacts their daily lives. It was picked up by more than 3,200 ABC radio affiliates, including the most-listened-to radio station in North America, 77 WABC-AM. Neal hosted 1,025 programs before retiring on May 31, 2010.

In addition to producing and hosting “FBI, This Week,” Neal also liaised with authors and television, film, and radio producers for various projects including books, TV documentaries, feature and made-for-TV movies, and radio programs/interviews. Neal assisted author David Baldacci with several of his books, garnering acknowledgments of thanks in several.

Neal also worked with New Dominion Pictures in Suffolk, VA, to coordinate the review and clearance of closed FBI cases that were reenacted for airing on the Discovery television Channel. Neal and his wife, Linda, acted as extras in three segments of The FBI Files.

After retiring, Neal remained active in the FBI, serving in the FBI American Legion Post 56 and the Metro and NOVA Chapters of the FBI Alumni Society. In May 2018, Neal received an award from FBI Director Christopher Wray for increasing FBI Post membership by 18 percent. Neal also served two years as the Chapter Chair for the Metro Chapter and from 2019-21 was the Mid-Atlantic Regional Vice President. Neal worked part-time for the Fairfax County Election Office for several years.

Neal’s love for animals led him to obtain a veterinary assistant certificate through the Fairfax County Adult and Community Education program. His passion for baseball, especially the Dodgers, drove him to visit many of the 30 major league baseball stadiums around the country. After Neal retired from the FBI, he flew to Los Angeles to attend a Dodgers baseball game and was honored when the scoreboard lit up and said, “Dodgers Welcome the Radio Voice of the FBI.” In addition, Neal had the honor to meet his hero Vince Scully, play-by-play announcer for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers.

Neal’s love for Elvis, do-wop, and 60’s music followed him into retirement, as well. He hosted the monthly Soundtrack of the 60s show on The 60s Official Site (https://wwwthe60sofficialsite.com) for nearly 15 years. Neal also participated in a weekly ham radio operator’s Nostalgia Net where participants discuss, reminisce, and learn about 1960s music, movies, and television shows.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, starting at 2 p.m. at Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22151, tel. 703-941-9428.

Neal’s ashes will be interred on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, starting at 2:45 p.m. at the Garden of Memories, 300 Soldier Hill Road, Washington Township, NJ 07676, tel. 201-262-2722.

Instead of flowers, please donate in Neal’s name to your local or national American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Humane Society of the United States.