Paul Silver

Paul Lenhart Silver passed away Friday 16th, 2022 at 87 years old after a difficult battle with the flu and pneumonia. He had recently moved from his longtime residence in Johnson to live at Mayo Healthcare in Northfield near his family.
Paul was born on June 9th, 1935 in the Philadelphia area where he grew up. Paul was passionate about classical music, history, books, and teaching. He was a kind, retiring man who loved wry jokes and puns. He also had a fondness for watching baseball and relished a family outing on a summer night to watch the Mountaineers play.
Paul's personal and professional life reflected his love of teaching, history, and music. He received his bachelor's in history and music from Oberlin College, and his PhD in American History from the University of Pennsylvania. After teaching at two colleges, he took a job at Johnson State College in 1971, where he dedicated nearly 50 years of teaching until retiring in May of 2020. At Johnson he not only taught American History, Women's History, and Chinese and Japanese History, but also served as a student advisor, Ellsworth Trust member, and as the Humanities Department Chair. Paul would even spend parts of his summer reviewing AP History exams.
Paul was an accomplished and talented musician. After piano lessons as a child, he went on to study clarinet at the Curtis Institute of music in Philadelphia and studied under the principal clarinetist of the Philadelphia Philharmonic. He would go on to play clarinet for many years with the Vermont Philharmonic, the Johnson State College Band, the Hyde Park opera players, and for his own woodwind quintet, named Cadenza.
Paul is predeceased by his sister Ruth. He is survived by his wife Cynthia Steed of 37 years, stepson Colin Crawford-Stempel, his family Tanya, Rowan and Caiden Crawford-Stempel, and close family Noreen Bryan and Galen Whittaker.
There will be a memorial concert and gathering at a later date in January. Time, date and place to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, please send any contributions to the Vermont Philharmonic online at https://www.vermontphilharmonic.com/ or at PO Box 425, Montpelier, VT 05601.
Arrangements are in the care of Kingston Funeral Home, Northfield VT