Aniello C. di Sabato
Neil di Sabato passed away peacefully on December 31st, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.
While his death brings great sorrow to anyone who may have been fortunate enough to call him husband, or brother, or father, or uncle, or teacher, or friend; it’s also a sharp reminder of the joy that Neil brought to the lives of everyone around him and those he encountered on his path.
Neil was born and raised in South Philadelphia to Joseph and Margharita DiSabato. He was the youngest of 3; brother of Vito DiSabato and the late Amalia Manware.
Neil was at the top of his class at South Philadelphia High School and he gained special attention for his unusually strong artistic abilities, which helped catapult him into the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts for his undergraduate degree and then the University of Pennsylvania for his MFA.
Beyond his intelligence and credentials, Neil was a prolific teacher for decades and a talented artist. He was extremely knowledgeable about technique, theory, history, and ethics and managed to weave them all into interesting and resonant lessons for his students.
Neil also dedicated his life to his family. He was a loving husband to Anne M. DiSabato, an incredible father to Alexa M. Scarlett and Alden S. DiSabato, and the proud Nonno of Ryan A. and Emily A. Scarlett.
A memorial service will be held in Neil’s honor. The details will be communicated at a later date.
Dear Anna,
Although we lost contact when you moved from Fairmount, we have nice memories of Neil, you and the kids at the studio on Girard Ave.
So sorry to hear about your loss.
Sending love!
Ken and Marjon
Anne,
I am so sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace and eternal light shine upon him.
To a beloved friend, teacher, gentle soul, who carried Art on his sleeve, As a teacher/mentor at PAFA he had clear ideas and an amazing skill at conveying them. His quiet self hid a delightful sense of humor.
Ave atque vale
Our condolences to Anne, Alexa and Alden. I have such wonderful memories of spending New Year’s Eve with Neil and Anne while we anxiously awaited for our sons to arrive home. Neil’s comforting humor and Anne’s wonderful snacks got us through. He will be missed and we are thinking of his family.
Best,
Debbie and Rich Feldman
Anna, I am o sorry for your recent loss. I remember fondly the years we all “hung out” together many years ago in Philadelphia. Neal was so special and always interesting.
My thoughts are with you and your family.
Wandra
Dear Anna…..As Wandra said, there were many special times that we will hold close to our hearts while missing Neil. Wishing those memories will comfort you, Alexa and Alden.
Carolyn
Neil was an art student of my fathers, and the portrait artist of my sister and myself as children, and, not much later, the only person I knew in Paris, who I inexplicably bumped into in the Louvre. That was the last time I saw him. I was 12. But I recently started to sort my vinyl albums, and the first I reached for to retain were Joni Mitchell’s earliest three albums, gifted to us in lieu of money after my sister and I posed for him in his Samson St studio. (They were my first albums, and I played them over and over.) As Joni Mitchell recently returned to the stage, I had occasion to tell the story to friends. They asked if I had looked him up, and sadly I had relegated him to a childhood memory, and not so much a real person who might still even be nearby. It is only now, at their prompting, that I searched him out, and learned I am too late. He was kind and thoughtful, and I value my memory of him.