Neil was born and raised in Bronx, NY, son of Sarah and Louis Wolfman. His parents were holocaust survivors and married before coming to America. Neil felt that being a child of holocaust survivors profoundly shaped his childhood. He went to Bronx High School of Science, New York University, then Cornell University where he received his PhD in biochemistry. It was during the final weeks of getting his doctorate that he met his future wife, Deborah May.
After getting a job in Boston at a genetic engineering start-up (Genetics Institute), he and Deborah settled in Dover MA where they raised their 3 children.
While Neil continued to work in the pharmaceutical industry, he followed his passion for teaching and taught chemistry at Boston College part-time for 15 years. He then became a full-time professor once he retired from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in 2013.
He became a beloved mentor to countless students and was proudly recognized as such by winning two university wide Professor of the Year awards.
Survived by Deborah, his wife of 38 years, children Celia Katz (John), Hannah Wolfman Jones (James), Willie Wolfman and 2 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday February 16 at 2:00pm at Temple Aliyah, 1664 Central Avenue, Needham MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boston College for a Neil Wolfman memorial- www.bc.edu/give. In the dedication line, write “in memory of Neil Wolfman” or donate a tribute gift to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum www.ushmm.org/donate
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