Neil E. Cashman Jr.

Neil E. Cashman, Jr., born in Berwick, PA, on December 8th, 1956, to Neil and Laura Petrillo Cashman, lived a life marked by service, family, food, friendship, and an unmistakable enthusiasm for everything he did. The youngest of four children, Neil graduated from Berwick High School and Mansfield University, where he enjoyed the company of his Phi Sigma Kappa brothers. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Cindy; his two children, Bryan Lowe (Kristie) of Harrisburg and Briana Cashman of Philadelphia; his two grandchildren, Tenley and Harper Lowe; his brother, Richard Cashman of Berwick; his sister, Joanne Cashman of Sunbury; and many devoted nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sharon Cashman. If an obituary is a chance to tell the story of a life, then Neil’s story must be told. Rarely do we meet someone whose intensity was matched by his capacity for joy, but Neil Cashman was such a person. His professional career was a story of public service. Fresh out of college, Neil led a crew of at-risk youth restoring parks and public spaces. His success with leading people and overseeing process caught the attention of leaders in the community. One such leader, Congressman Frank Harrison, recruited Neil to manage the congressional offices serving Columbia, Montour and Sullivan Counties. His involvement in regional issues led to positions in workforce development and, later, with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, where he earned the nickname “Mr. Fun”. Once in Harrisburg, Neil quickly hit his stride, working with the Senate of Pennsylvania and serving as Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party during the Bush-Gore election. He eventually found his long-term professional home at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. There, he finished his career in public service in 2024 as Director of Government Affairs. But Neil’s greatest accomplishments were not found on a resume. A devoted husband, Neil married Cindy on June 3rd, 1995, and what a match they were. Their shared loved of sports resulted in countless hours spent cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Every year, they would embark on a journey to Las Vegas, testing their luck on their favorite slot machines and eating their way through the strip. Neil and Cindy’s favorite pastime, however, was sharing meals on their backyard dining deck to the tune of their carefully curated music playlist. By their side always and particularly when food was involved, their loyal labrador companion, Tyson, waited for meal samples with varying degrees of patience. Together, Neil and Cindy built a special life together. They raised two children, captured the hearts of two grandchildren, and became the glue that held the entire family together. Neil adored being a father and was a remarkable role model to Bryan and Briana. His unrivaled work ethic, paired with his commitment to being the life of the party, demonstrated the importance of work-life harmony. The hours he spent answering Bryan’s questions about the political innerworkings on PCN or helping Briana with her math homework were matched with hours spent celebrating “First Friday” parties, enjoying one of his many mastered dishes underneath the neon glow of his hand built backyard bar, and telling impressively corny dad jokes that were met with an eye roll or a giggle. To show their gratitude, the kids gifted Neil with two personalized whiskey bottles – Woodford Reserve from Bryan and Jameson from Briana. Every Father’s Day, he would pour shots from his private stock and the three of them would toast to the wonderful father Neil was. Perhaps his most cherished role was being a grandfather to Tenley and Harper. Neil was an extraordinary person, so of course he wouldn’t settle with an ordinary grandparent nickname. Through careful research of “Italian grandfather nicknames” he settled on one that was seemingly made just for him – Pupo. He and Tenley had a special bond, filled with playful teasing and unlimited exchanges of sweet treats. Harper amusedly watched him as he made silly faces and goofy noises, all to steal a smile, for which his success rate was quite high. Neil had an affinity for creating, maintaining, and honoring traditions. As a self-described foodie, it comes as no surprise that many of his traditions were centered around food. He loved creating and sharing great food – both through his spirited Facebook posts and his ever-growing list of care package recipients. Each spring, dozens of relatives and friends from Berwick to Baltimore eagerly awaited Neil’s famous Easter Pizza. The Christmas season was never complete without his annual visit to the Italian Market in South Philly to prepare for holiday celebrations, and most importantly, to secure a stick of pepperoni for his daughter-in-law Kristie’s stocking. The most anticipated night on the annual Cashman family vacation was always the takeout seafood feast from Rick’s in North Wildwood, which Neil championed. At home, he would regularly cook batches of his famous fireballs, meatballs, and sauce large enough to feed an army - he always kept his armory of to-go boxes fully stocked. Even Neil’s non-food traditions had an essence of food in them, demonstrated by the hot dog hat photo he took every year with great niece Ginny, great nephew Rocco, Tenley, and Harper to mark a successful week down the shore. It is through these traditions that his family will remember and honor Neil as they carry on his legacy for years to come. Neil had an intensity that filled rooms. He had an enormous capacity for laughter, generosity, friendship, and fun. He loved fiercely, argued passionately, cooked enthusiastically, traveled hungrily, and always showed up for the people he loved. Gone too soon, Neil had the life he wanted—and he lived it every day. A viewing will be held at 10:00AM, on Monday, August 24, 2026, at Musselman Funeral Home, 324 Hummel Avenue, Lemoyne, PA 17043, with a service to follow at 12:00PM.

Neil E. Cashman Jr.

December 8, 1956 - August 18, 2026