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Dr. Neal Alan Niederman O.D.
Dr. Neal Alan Niederman O.D.
Obituary
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Neal Alan Niederman Obituary
Neal graduated from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, California, and furthered his education at UCLA and the Los Angeles College of Optometry. He dedicated many years to his career as an optometrist, serving the communities of Simi Valley and South Lake Tahoe, California, where he was admired for his meticulous care and gentle demeanor.
A devoted member of Temple Bat Yam in South Lake Tahoe for 24 years, Neal was passionate about hobbies that connected him with nature and history. He found peace in rockhounding, gold panning, and fishing, often seeking solace in the majestic beauty of Yosemite. His interests in coin collecting and selling casino memorabilia on eBay reflected his fascination with history and storytelling. Neal's friends will fondly remember his love for cats and his deep affection for his wife, Stephanie.
Neal is survived by his loving wife, Stephanie Niederman; Marc Brandon (Allison, Asher, Sierra Rose), Jeremy Niederman (Jed, Daniel), Felissa Miller, Clete Miller, Charlie Miller; William, Tyler, Winston, and Wallace Browne, Lisa Browne (Gabriel Almond, Julien Almond, Eislyn Snyder, Ruby Lucas, Liam Lucas), Stewart Holland, Christian Holland, Rev. Wendy Holland (Donovan, Isabelle), Dr. Patricia Gilbert, April Holland (Brian, Roman), Anne Dimopoulos, and Kelly Lynn Lentine (Tom, Henry, Faye, Joseph, Elisabeth Rose, Ishna, Roobens). He was preceded in death by Andre Browne, Cynthia Sue Holland, Harry Dimopoulos, and Arnold Niederman.
A graveside burial will take place at Happy Homestead Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Temple Bat Yam at tbytahoe.org. Neal Niederman's legacy of kindness, intellectual curiosity, and respect for the past will be cherished by all who knew him.
16 Entries
Stephanie A. Niederman
January 5, 2025
I love and continue to miss you, my beloved.
Felissa Miller
December 5, 2024
Uncle Neal was a wonderful uncle. He was not a mushy gushy, lovey dovey type of guy. But he showed he cared nonetheless in quiet ways. There is nothing he would not do for his family and he was always there when needed. I love you Uncle Neal!
Darlene Pokorny
December 4, 2024
Steffie, Thank you for sharing these writings which have been so meaningful for you. They are beautiful.
STEPHANIE NIEDERMAN
November 30, 2024
///////////////////PART FOUR///////////////////
THE WIND BLOWS, AND RESTLESS ARE THE SAILS; EVEN THE RUDDER BEGS DIRECTION; YET QUIETLY MY CAPTAIN AWAITS MY SILENCE. AND THESE MY MARINERS, WHO HAVE HEARD THE CHOIR OF THE GREATER SEA, THEY TOO HAVE HEARD ME PATIENTLY.
NOW THEY SHALL WAIT NO LONGER. THE STREAM HAS REACHED THE SEA, AND ONCE MORE THE GREAT MOTHER HOLDS HER SON AGAINST HER BREAST.
BUT SHOULD MY VOICE FADE IN YOUR EARS, AND MY LOVE VANISH IN YOUR MEMORY, THEN I WILL COME AGAIN, YEA, I SHALL RETURN WITH THE TIDE,
AND THOUGH DEATH MAY HID ME, AND THE GREATER SILENCE ENFOLD ME, YET AGAIN WILL I SEEK YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
FORGET NOT THAT I SHALL COME BACK TO YOU. A LITTLE WHILE, AND MY LONGING SHALL GATHER DUST AND FOAM FOR ANOTHER BODY.
A LITTLE WHILE, A MOMENT OF REST UPON THE WIND, AND AN OTHER WOMAN SHALL BEAR ME.
How you can show support
STEPHANIE NIEDERMAN
November 30, 2024
/////////////////PART THREE/////////////////
SPEAK TO US OF LOVE.
WHEN LOVE BECKONS TO YOU, FOLLOW HIM, THOUGH HIS WAYS ARE HARD AND STEEP.
AND WHEN HIS WINGS ENFOLD YOU YIELD TO HIM, THOUGH THE SWORD HIDDEN AMONG HIS PINIONS MAY WOUND YOU.
AND WHEN HE SPEAKS TO YOU BELIEVE IN HIM,THOUGH HIS VOICE MAY SHATTER YOUR DREAMS AS THE NORTH WIND LAYS WASTE THE GARDEN.
FOR EVEN AS LOVE CROWNS YOU SO SHALL HE CRUCIFY YOU. EVEN AS HE ASCENDS TO YOUR TO YOUR HEIGHT AND CARESSES YOUR TENDEREST BRANCHES THAT QUIVER IN THE SUN, SO SHALL HE DESCEND TO YOUR ROOTS AND SHAKE THEM IN THEIR CLINGING TO THE EARTH.
LIKE SHEAVES OF CORN HE GATHERS YOU UNTO HIMSELF. HE THRESHES YOU TO MAKE YOU NAKED.HE SIFTS YOU TO FREE YOU FROM YOUR HUSKS, HE GRINDS YOU TO WHITENESS. HE KNEADS YOU UNTIL YOU ARE PLIANT;
AND THEN HE ASSIGNS YOU TO HIS SACRED FIRE, THAT YOU MAY BECOME SACRED BREAD FOR GOD'S SACRED FEAST.
ALL THESE THINGS SHALL LOVE DO UNTO YOU THAT YOU KNOW THE SECRETS OF YOUR HEART, AND IN THAT KNOWLEDGE BECOME A FRAGMENT OF LIFE'S HEART.
STEPHANIE NIEDERMAN
November 30, 2024
/////////////////PART TWO/////////////////
AND THE PRIEST AND PRIESTESSES SAID UNTO HIM:
LET NOT THE WAVES OF THE SEA SEPARATE US NOW, AND THE YEARS YOU HAVE SPENT IN OUR MIDST BECOME A MEMORY.
YOU HAVE WALKED AMONG US A SPIRIT, AND YOUR SHADOW HAS BEEN A LIGHT UPON OUR FACES.
MUCH HAVE WE LOVED YOU. BUT SPEECHLESS WAS OUR LOVE,AND WITH VEILS IT HAS BEEN VEILED.
YET NOW IT CRIES UNTO YOU, AND WOULD STAND REVEALED BEFORE YOU
AND EVER HAS IT BEEN THAT LOVE KNOWS NOT ITS OWN DEPTH UNTIL THE HOUR OF SEPARATION.
STEPHANIE NIEDERMAN
November 30, 2024
/////////////////PART ONE///////////////
HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU SAILED IN MY DREAMS. AND NOW YOU COME IN MY AWAKENING, WHICH IS MY DEEPER DREAMS.
READY AM I TO GO,WITH SAILS FULL SET AWAITS THE WIND.
ONLY ANOTHER BREATH WILL I BREATHE IN THE STILL AIR, ONLY ANOTHER LOVING LOOK CAST BACKWARD, AND THEN I SHALL STAND AMONG YOU, A SEAFARER AMONG SEAFARERS.
AND YOU, VAST SEA, SLEEPLESS MOTHER,WHO ARE PEACE AND FREEDOM TO THE RIVER AND THE STREAM,ONLY ANOTHER WINDING WILL THIS STREAM MAKE,ONLY ANOTHER MURMUR IN THIS GLADE,AND THEN I SHALL COME TO YOU, A BOUNDLESS DROP TP A BOUNDLESS OCEAN...
Stephanie Niederman
November 30, 2024
There's many stories which I posted as I process my grief for Neal.
Stephanie A. Niederman
November 28, 2024
Family and Friends, if you would to make a small contribution in Neals Memory, please press the tbytahoe.org button at the end of Neals Obituary to get to the TEMPLE BAT YAM WEBSITE, or mail a check directly to the Temple, address also found on the website.
Stephanie A. Niederman
November 27, 2024
THANK0SGIVING,
When Neal & I moved to Lake Tahoe in 2000, I made my first contact with Temple Bat Yam (flying sweet potatoes). We were an inter faith marriage and the dearly departed congregation welcomed us with open arms
Coming from much grief over the years, I knew that I was not strong enough spiritually to face trauma without the support of a community.
24 years latter I found out just how much Temple Bat Yam loved Neal & I.
Temple Bat Yam embraced me. Lead me through & holding my hand Neal's unexspected & unplanned for death,
From the mourtury, selecting a grave site, obituary ,beautiful graveside service (and they knew him well),to prayers for the dead rituals at my & others home. I didn't have to do anything.
As I sit mourning at home for a month they are providing me with Meals so I don't have to leave the home.
Instead of flowers please consider making a donation in Neal's Honor, as Temple Bat Yam is a very small community 55 family's.
MAY GOD REST NEAL NIEDERMAN'S SOUL FOREVER.
Love Stephanie
Stephanie Niederman
November 26, 2024
My Beloved Neal served me coffee in bed all these years in Lake Tahoe.
Ellen goldberg
November 25, 2024
Neil was a kind a gentle man. Always had time to listen to me. He was very involved in coin collecting and spent time with me reviewing my family coins. One of my favorite memories is the day we went rock gathering in the desert outside Virginia city with my 10 year old grandson Jude. We had so much fun laughing and then getting snacks. Neil schelleped the buckets and then washed the rocks when we got homes. Jude brought the rocks back to S California and still has them. We spent lots of holidays and birthdays together. I truly loved him. He will be missed. My heart goes out to Stephanie who,I also adore. She is a strong resourceful woman who will need time to process this. It was too sudden Love you Stephanie. Ellen Goldberg
Darlene Pokorny
November 24, 2024
Neal was a wonderful man. I´m so glad he was a part of our family. I love you Steffie.
Sheryl Dugo
November 24, 2024
I am so sorry Steffie. Neal was a good guy and I am thankful for all the years you had together.
Love, Gymie
Stephanie Niederman
November 24, 2024
I LOVED HIM
Stephanie Ann Niederman
November 23, 2024
It is with deep regret that I am notifying our beloved family and friends that the love of my life Neal died peacefully in my arms on November 15th. Neal fell down our indoor stairs and sustained severe head trauma. We brought him to the nearest regional trauma hospital where Neal spent 56 hours. His injuries were too much to heal and I set him free. A beautiful death just hours later.
Neal and I were members of Temple Bat Yam, in the mountains of beautiful South Lake Tahoe for the last 25 years, and they have embraced me and guided me through the entire process of the burial and beautiful graveside service and ritual meals and services to guide Neals Spirit home.
Neal and I ran marathons of caregiving for both his family and mine sometimes lasting decades devoting countless hours, emotions and finances.
Neal and I loved & cherished each other deeply over 34 years of married life. However, Neal had episodic depression all his life which affected both of us. I could never be angry with him because of the depth of his suffering. However, it was like a honeymoon all the rest of the time. I always made sure that I looked after myself so that I could be there for him.
Neal loved gold panning. We loved the ancient rise of civilization, the ascent of man, the universe and biology and the sciences. Watched PBS, Masterpiece, the Great Courses, and especially crime detective stories from different countries. We loved our beloved cats and have had 17 during our time together. We had to stop watching the news many years ago. He was too sensitive to tolerate it.
Later I will post a beautiful compilation of The Prophet, which I have read at all the funerals of my beloved dead, and will be read for me someday.
My Love to You All. Stephanie Ann Niederman
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