Obituary of David Zilber
David Zilber passed peacefully on January 16th following a brief illness, 9 days shy of his 61st birthday.
Born in Odessa, Ukraine, David was one of two children to his parents, Mikhail and Lyubov Zilbershteyn. His parents survived the Holocaust, while his grandfather, after whom he was named, died fighting the Nazis. He was very proud of his Jewish identity and was committed to fighting antisemitism.
David and his wife, Masha, studied applied mathematics at Odessa State University. They met while working on a collective farm (kolkhoz), where they picked tomatoes. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1992, filled with hopes of achieving the American Dream. Masha and David were married for 31 years before Masha passed away from lung cancer in 2016.
One of David’s proudest accomplishments was raising his son, Eric. A devoted father, David spent time tutoring Eric in math, coaching his youth soccer team, and fostering Eric’s love of the NBA. David’s ultimate goal was to provide a good life for Eric, and he was never prouder than when he got to see Eric graduate from Harvard Law School in 2022.
David found joy in life’s simple pleasures - swimming at the beach (arriving at 6am to ensure a prime spot), going on trips planned by Masha, drinking an Argentinian Malbec, listening to classic rock, and catching up on the latest sports news. David could often be found trying a new recipe for homemade soup or watching reruns of Seinfeld.
David is predeceased by his beloved wife Mariya Kleyner, his parents, and his sister Alla. He is survived by his son, Eric Zilber and his wife, Maeve Forti; his niece, Eve Fishinevich, and her parents, Galya and Vova; his brother-in-law, Yakov Shalfman and his children, Rosalyn, Victor, and Miriam.
The family will hold a shiva to honor David’s life on Monday, January 20th at his home in Montville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Anti-Defamation League in David’s honor.
In Loving Memory
David Zilber
1964 - 2025
