Henry Silverman - Obituary

Henry J. Silverman

Silverman, Henry J.
Feb. 22, 1934 - Nov. 27, 2013
Henry J. Silverman, Dr., 79, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Haslett, Michigan, died on Nov. 27, 2013. Services will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Fri., at Great Room at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, FL. Funeral arrangements by: Family.
Henry is survived by Ann, his wife of 56 years, son Edwin and partner Dick of Naarden in The Netherlands, daughter Emily and partner Matt of Baltimore, MD, and brother David and wife Martha of Sebastian, FL.
Henry received his BA and MA from Yale University, and his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. He retired from Michigan State University in 2001, after a 37 year career as a Professor of American History. He enjoyed teaching and writing, and championed civil liberties.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the ACLU of Michigan, aclumich.org.

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store.

Published in Herald Tribune from Dec. 5 to Dec. 6, 2013.

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8 entries

November 29, 2019

He was my friend

John Bratzel

Coworker

December 13, 2013

Ann and the family:
I received an email from the ATL (now WRAC) Department that Henry had passed and I was very sorry to hear the news. Henry helped me out twice, once in getting hired and another when the FBI did not like my view of J. Edgar Hoover. We were opposed to each other politically, but Henry stood with me. It was more appreciated than he ever knew.
I also remember our trip to Burt Lake. Quite a great time Henry will be greatly missed.

John Bratzel

December 13, 2013

Dear Ann: Betty and I send our condolences and sympathy to you and your family. Henry provided exemplary service to MSU in his roles as department chairperson of ATL and then History as well as his role as Secretary for Academic Governance. His work for the ACLU was respected and recognized. Best regards, Doug and Betty Noverr, East Lansing

December 8, 2013

I was a student of Dr Silverman's at Michigan State in the early 1990's. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. Condolences to the family.

Karenn Vernagus

December 6, 2013

Dear Ann, I was so sorry to hear of Henry's passing. I worked with him during the time that he chaired ATL and always enjoyed his keen insight. Elaine Cherney

Elaine Cherney

December 5, 2013

Ann and Family,
it is with deep sadness that I write an acknowledgement of Professor Silverman's passing. I learned about this wonderful intellectual sometime in the mid-1970's through one of his undergraduate students of American Radical Thought, my husband Pedro. As a quiet man and not ever given to hero worshipping, Pedro's estimation of Professor Silverman as a grounded, compassionate intellectual all through his years is the closest he came to it. His impact on my husband, my husbands impact on me and on our children is a gift that continues to be paid forward. I am sorry to hear that we will no longer have him asking the challenging questions to change minds and attitudes, but luckily we have the children and grandchildren of the students he impacted. Today, I am sad for the news of his passing.

December 5, 2013

Memory Eternal

Duane Gliwa

December 5, 2013

Dear Ann,
I was very sorry to learn today of Henry's passing. I have fond memories of our aebilskiver breakfast at your home, the lovely reception you gave for Ed and Dick, you and Henry hosting various political gatherings, and the Coral Gables breakfast send-off when you two moved to Florida with your darling dogs. Henry was always very nice to me and I have missed you both. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
Love,
Kate Ojibway

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