Jay Siskin (pictured), president of Penny Preville and the husband of its founder and namesake, died on Nov. 15, after a several-month fight with liver cancer. He was 70.
A statement called him “a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend who was known for his ever-present smile, his larger-than-life personality, his affable and generous nature, and his kind and compassionate soul.”
In a 2007 interview, Preville credited Siskin with helping launching her business.
“We were in Fire Island in New York, where there are no cars—you have to take a boat over there,” she said. “So when you want groceries, you have to take a little red wagon with you. I had made some jewelry and most of them were turquoise, coral, and sterling-silver pieces.
“My husband, who is really good at display now, made a little display in the wagon, and I went into town with my best friend. We each had Irish setters, so we just sat in the middle of town with the wagon and the two dogs, and I sold about $175 worth of jewelry that day. That was my first real experience of actually selling something.”
Siskin’s hobbies included “golf, meditation, the arts, and making meaningful heartfelt connections with all those he knew,” the statement said. “More than anything, he was a caretaker and family man whose greatest joy was putting a smile on the faces of the people he loved.”
He is survived by his wife, Penny; sons Skyler and Derek; sister Susan; step-siblings Lynda and Lee; and five grandchildren.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, friends and family donate to Perlmutter Cancer Center or Calvary Hospital.
His funeral will take place Friday, November 20, at 11 a.m. EST, and can be accessed via this link.
(Image courtesy of Penny Preville)
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