David Slivka

David Slivka, beloved husband, brother, cousin, friend & neighbor, passed away on January 24, 2024, at the age of 77.

Born in New York City on April 14, 1946, to Judith & Jules Slivka, David was a remarkably gifted & thoughtful man whose intelligence & gentle spirit left a lasting imprint on everyone who knew him.

A standout student from an early age, David attended Brooklyn Technical High School, earning admission through its rigorous entrance exam. He later went on to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where he excelled academically, completing his degree in just three years. His brilliance was recognized immediately: during his senior year, he was hired by Bell Labs, one of the most innovative engineering institutions of its time.

Before he graduated, David was involved in a devastating car accident in upstate New York that left him in a coma for over six weeks. Though the experience resulted in lifelong challenges, it also revealed the extraordinary resilience that defined him. Bell Labs, recognizing both his talent and his character, honored their commitment to him - a testament to the impact he made even in his earliest professional years.

Despite the challenges that followed, David continued forward with quiet strength. He built a life of stability, purpose & love, later joining Off-Track Betting (OTB) at its inception, where he helped design & integrate the computer systems that powered the entire operation.

On July 2, 1972, David married Barbara Kantor, beginning more than 50 years of devoted partnership. Their life together was grounded, steady & deeply companionable. They shared simple joys: card games, beloved TV traditions & especially the family “bubby cake,” a vanilla pound cake recipe from his treasured grandmother Pearl, lovingly known as “Bubby.”

David had an incredible memory & a playful competitive streak. He won multiple daytime TV travel contests simply by recalling the prior day’s show with perfect detail, earning trips that he and Barbara enjoyed together.

He and Barbara also purchased a memorial brick at the Bayonne World Trade Center Memorial Park, a place of deep significance to them both. One day, after nearly giving up on finding it, Barbara post his passing, located it & marked it with a small American flag so it could always be found again.

Though quiet in nature, David possessed a brilliant mind - he was a lifelong Mensa member, paired with a tender heart and unwavering kindness.

David is survived by his sister, Abbey D. Schwartz (née Slivka), along with cousins, extended family & friends who remember him as a brilliant, gentle, & profoundly kind man.

He is reunited now with his beloved Barbara. Their memory will be honored together at Bayonne Memorial Home on December 20th at 12:30 p.m. with gratitude for the lives they shared & the quiet strength with which they moved through the world.

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