Norma Hack Neapolitano

March 14, 1942 - July 16, 2011

SARATOGA LAKE - Norma Irene Hack Neapolitano of Saratoga Lake and a former resident of Fort Plain, Schenectady, Niskayuna, NY and Myrtle Beach, SC, died on Saturday, July 16th after a courageous two year battle with pancreatic cancer. The beloved daughter of James Christian and Leontine Muriel (Leturmy) Hack, she was born on March 14, 1942 in Nelliston, Montgomery County, NY. Norma graduated from Fort Plain Central School and the Ellis Hospital School of Nursing and then worked for 41 years as a Registered Nurse. The final 20 years she was the Nursing Manager of Coram (Caremark) Healthcare. During her career, she developed a special interest in Oncology Nursing and held certification in that field for 20 years. Norma had successfully fought two previous bouts with different cancer types over the past 15 years and regularly volunteered to work with cancer patients at Saratoga Hospital after she retired from nursing. Even while undergoing treatment herself, she was a confidant and point person for others that learned that they were diagnosed with cancer. She choreographed where people should go, what doctors to see, and even accompanied others to Boston to help them get the best treatments possible at facilities such as Dana Farber. She was an active member of Gilda’s Club for head and neck cancer as well as the Oley Foundation. She always put others first and was a person that everyone wanted to emulate. Norma is survived by her husband Gary John Neapolitano; two sons, Matthew James and Darryl Jon Neapolitano; a daughter-in law Sarah Hunter Neapolitano, and a grandson Hunter Neapolitano, all of Saratoga County. She is also survived by her sister Linda Ann (Hack) Schneider and her husband Norman of Saratoga Lake; a nephew David N. Schneider of Jessup, MD, a niece Christine L. Schneider Keyser’ husband Will, and their children Ainsley L. and Calli S. Keyser, all of Ashburn, VA; brother-in-law, Thomas Neapolitano and his wife Becky, of Cambridge, VT and several cousins. All were beloved to her. Norma was predeceased by her parents, who were both grew up in New York City and settled in Fort Plain and brother Ross Alexander Hack, who returned to New York City to pursue playwriting and directing as well as teaching at CCNY. Norma loved to read, play card games, travel and spend time with her family and friends. At the request of Norma, friends and relatives will be invited to join the family for a celebration of her life in the near future. Funeral and burial will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Mollie Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center, Saratoga Hospital, 211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-1003 would be greatly appreciated by Norma. She served as a volunteer in the Center and the gifts will be used to help financially distressed patients dealing with cancer.