Elizabeth Silver

Elizabeth Silver Passed away in her Santa Fe home on July 3, 2009, she was 93. Raised in Des Moines Iowa, she won the City spelling contest as a teenager and was valedictorian of her high school class. She played piano, oboe and bassoon. She graduated from the University of Iowa in journalism, worked in Washington DC during World War II and then moved to Albuquerque where she was executive secretary in the School of Inter-American Affairs at UNM. She married Caswell Silver in 1946. The couple lived in Albuquerque before moving to Denver in 1959. They returned to New Mexico in 1982 and Elizabeth continued to live in Santa Fe after her husband's death in 1988. Elizabeth Silver held leadership positions in many progressive organizations throughout her life. The League of Women Voters, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, S.A.N.E., Grey Panthers, Congress for Racial Equality, the American Friends Service Committee, and the Women's Alliance of the Unitarian/Universalists were beneficiaries of her conviction that peace and justice are essential for human survival. She encouraged young people to explore the virtues of conscientious objection to war. She is survived by children Anne Silver and Sue and Ali Harivandi, and grandchildren Zsaleh and Mithra Harivandi, Caswell and Janna Rico -Silver, a large extended family, and "best girlfriend" Constance Hughes. She greatly appreciated the many caregivers whose kindness and generosity nourished her longevity. Elizabeth will be remembered by all for her kindness, selflessness, humor, intelligence and word mastery. She was an exceptional example of a good human being. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Veterans for Peace, 7 Avenida Vista Grande #117, Santa Fe 87508. Arrangements are under the direction of Berardinelli Family Funeral Service 1399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 984-8600