Carl D. Silver

Carl D. Silver

Philanthropist & Businessman 1925-2011

Carl D. Silver passed away Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Carl was one of the most successful real estate developers in Virginia's history and a generous philanthropist who cared deeply about those who were less fortunate. He was a gentle man of strength and conviction.

Carl David Silver was born on Sept. 14, 1925, in the small town of New Boston, Ohio, not far from the Kentucky border. His parents were Max Silver, a Polish immigrant, and Yetta Levin Silver of Richmond, Va. Carl had an older brother, Israel, and a sister, Sophie. Carl's mother, Yetta, died in 1932 at the age of 39 after a long illness. Soon after, his father moved with his children to the small community of Tappahannock in Virginia's scenic Northern Neck. At that time, Tappahannock was a sleepy little town of less than 500 people. His father owned a salvage operation, buying and selling all kinds of merchandise. Max was known for his optimistic philosophy of life and believed that if a person worked hard and thought big, he could be successful. In 1940, Max married Clara Dere Freund of Richmond, a widow who had three children of her own.

When Carl was a boy, his father often took him along when buying merchandise to resell in his salvage business. Max told friends that Carl had a good head for business, even as a young boy. Carl's lifelong fondness for dancing and music started when he took weekly dancing lessons. Even then, he was known among friends for his great dancing skill, as well as his generosity and kindness.

The tranquility of Tappahannock changed dramatically with America's entry into World War II. When Carl turned 18, he promptly notified the local draft board that he wanted to be inducted. He was sent off to basic combat training as an infantryman in the U.S. Army, then shipped to Europe where he stayed in combat for nine months, from the time he landed in Normandy in July 1944, until after D-Day. On March 25, 1945, about six weeks before the war ended, he was wounded in the right leg from shrapnel from an artillery shell. He was sent from Germany to hospitals in England and New York until he recovered and was discharged from the service after earning a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and other decorations.

Back in Tappahannock at age 20, Carl was eager to start his own business buying cars and wholesaling them to other dealers. He soon opened a used car lot in a rented, small, white, frame building on Tappahannock's main street. By the middle of 1946, his car business was prospering. By early 1947, Carl began a new chapter in his life. At the age of 21, he moved 50 miles up the Rappahannock River to Fredericksburg to open a car dealership, because he believed the small city had a bright future. That used car lot was located at 2216 Princess Anne St., trading as Carl D. Silver Inc. Those who knew Carl from those days said his energy and enthusiasm for the car business seemed boundless.

During his first year in Fredericksburg, Carl was introduced to Maxine Lyons, daughter of highly-respected businessman Louis Lyons and his wife, Leah. Both of Maxine's parents had roots in Fredericksburg. Carl Silver and Maxine Lyons were married in Beth Sholom Temple in Fredericksburg on Nov. 6, 1949. They had two children Loisann and Larry. Throughout their 62 years of marriage, Carl and Maxine shared one of the greatest loving relationships. Wherever he went, he would tell people how lucky he was to have the greatest wife. Carl and Maxine still held hands daily and talked about how much they loved each other and their family.

In 1954, Carl acquired the Don Burrell Motor Sales Company, a Buick dealership located at 2415 Princess Anne St. When he opened the new car showroom in July 1956, approximately 2,000 people attended the festivities. In 1957, he acquired a Pontiac dealership and the next year an American Motors franchise. He also purchased the old city armory on the U.S. 1 Bypass and partnered with two Richmond men to open the Fredericksburg Auto Auction that year.

In the 1960s, believing that the Fredericksburg region would grow even more dramatically because of the opening of Interstate 95, Carl began buying land throughout the region. His record of acquiring near key interchanges was phenomenal and leaves little doubt that Carl anticipated the economic benefits from the interstate.

In the course of the next 40 years, Carl was responsible for the development of more land within and around Fredericksburg than any other individual in the history of the region. He bought the land and developed Spotsylvania's first shopping center, Four-Mile Fork Shopping Center. Since the land was owned by dozens of individuals, he approached each landowner individually. He made a point to sit down with each of them, get to know them and was always very fair. He eventually developed all four corners and the surrounding land at Four-Mile Fork.

Carl's negotiating style was legendary. He would not twist anyone's arm, but he never gave up. He was deliberate, determined and likeable. He subsequently developed and built the Westwood Shopping Center and Westwood Office Park in 1974. In the 1980s, Carl and his son, Larry, developed the Aquia Town Center in North Stafford. In 1995, Carl and Larry developed Central Park, the largest retail commercial development on the East Coast.

These developments have contributed substantially to the economic vitality of the Fredericksburg region through the hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes generated, the infrastructure improvements built by Silver Companies and the thousands of jobs generated during the construction and ongoing operation of each development.

Carl shared his prosperity with those less fortunate, donating generously to local charities, healthcare organizations, synagogues, churches and countless individuals in need. Over the years he was frequently cited by various organizations for his humanitarian work. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Mary Washington Hospital Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce Citizenship Award, the "Citizen of the Year" Award from Elks Lodge 875, the Fredericksburg Jaycees "Boss of the Year" Award, awards from the Fredericksburg Area Association for the Handicapped, Boy Scouts and many others. He was recently presented a proclamation from the City of Fredericksburg for his service to the community.

Of particular concern to Carl was providing health care to those in need. He and Maxine were the largest donors to the Mary Washington Hospital Foundation. They also donated the property on State Route 3 where the Cancer Center of Virginia, Chancellor's Village, and Carriage Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center are located.

In addition to providing financial support to Mary Washington Healthcare (formerly MediCorp) and Mary Washington Hospital, Carl served on the MWH Foundation Board of Trustees as a charter member, having joined in 1983, and served until 2005. He was also a member of the Executive Committee from 1983 to 1989. In 2005, Carl was named an honorary board member in recognition of his 22 years of service to Mary Washington Hospital Foundation.

Carl is survived by his wife, Maxine; his son and daughter-in-law, Larry D. and Deborah Silver, of Delray Beach, Fla.; a grandson, Spencer Berman Silver, and a granddaughter, Madison Fay Silver, both of Delray Beach. His daughter, Loisann Silver Chacon, passed away on Jan. 19, 2011.

A funeral will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 18, at the Fredericksburg Expo Center, 2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway, Fredericksburg, Va. 22407. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Fredericksburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic, located in the Carl D. Silver Health Center on the Mary Washington Hospital Campus, 1301 Sam Perry Blvd., Fredericksburg, Va. 22401.

An online guest book is available at covenantfuneral service.com.