Sidney James Silver

03/30/1934 - 07/09/2025

Sidney "Sid" James Silver, beloved husband of the late Peggy Silver, cherished father of Patricia Silver (Jeffrey Trauberman), David Silver (Julie), Lisa Silver (Barry Kopit), Beth Lipset, Daniel Silver (Laurie); devoted grandfather of Jason Belinkie (Michelle), Jena Riley (Chris), Nikki Cole (Jason), Jacob Trauberman, Nathaniel Cannon (Maria), Marissa Moser (Jacob), Madison Cannon, Joshua Trauberman, Bailey Lipset, Braiden Lipset, Devin Silver and Sebastian Silver; adored great-grandfather to Siena Belinkie, Blake Riley, Jett Belinkie, Hayden Riley, Sloane Cole, Reid Cole, Austin Riley, Riley Moser, Charlotte Cannon and River Moser; treasured uncle to Dawn Schwab, Daniel Levin and Rebecca Schwam, and many great nieces and nephews; predeceased by his sisters Rhonda (Leslie) and Barbara (Arnold). He is also survived by his wonderful team Helen, Alain, Juana, Bombi, Joven, Wilma, Lemueil and Charles. Sidney passed away July 9, 2025.

Born in the middle of the Great Depression, Sid was raised primarily in Atlantic City, NJ. along with his two younger sisters, Rhonda and Barbara. Sid's parents ran a wholesale business supplying paper goods and sundries to Atlantic City's resort hotels. He hustled newspapers on the Boardwalk and often helped in his father's warehouse, learning firsthand the values of hard work and perseverance. The challenges of the Great Depression impacted his father greatly and instilled in Sid resilience and resourcefulness—qualities that would serve him throughout his life.

Sid served in the Army stateside during the Korean War. Through the GI Bill, he was able to attend Lehigh University where he earned both his undergraduate degree in Economics and Accounting and an MBA. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Peggy. They married when she was 18 years old and he was 20 years old, beginning a beautiful love story that would span more than 70 years and see them raise five children together.

Sid and Peggy moved to Washington, DC, where he joined the General Accounting Office and studied law at Georgetown University. He worked as a tax accountant at Burke, Landsberg and Gerber (which, through many mergers, became Deloitte and Touche) before he opened his own law firm.

Sid was exceptionally intelligent, highly ethical, fiercely loyal, and eternally optimistic. He was a self-made man. Driven by his immense willpower, he overcame many adversities to become one of Washington, DC's most successful lawyers. He was an icon in the Greater Washington legal and business community.

He was called Big Sid…the Big Guy. And this nickname fit him well. Big Sid was a "can do" person who worked extraordinarily hard in pursuing his dreams.

During his remarkable career - working until the age of 86 - Sid founded the law firm Silver, Freedman, Taff & Tiernan, which served some of Washington's most prominent companies, including Clyde's Restaurant Group, Britches of Georgetown, and Rowe Furniture. To Sid, his clients and law partners were far more than business partners; they were family and lifelong friends. He offered not only his deep legal expertise but also strategic business and financial insight that helped fuel their success.

Sid was deeply committed to giving back to his community. He co-founded Nevey Shalom Synagogue in Bowie, MD and was President and a long-time board member of the Washington Jewish Historical Society, now the Capital Jewish Museum. Sid played a pivotal role in securing its current home and laying the foundation for its continued impact. Sid also served on the Board of Governors for Georgetown University, the Dean's Advisory Council for Lehigh University (College of Business and Economics), the Board of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (where he was inducted into their Hall of Fame and honored with a Bronze Medal for service). He was a generous donor to the U.S. Memorial Holocaust Museum, JSSA and many other organizations.

In addition to his corporate clients, Sid oversaw more than 100 trusts and served on numerous other boards where his sharp business acumen was greatly respected. He was a general partner in the Washington Federals United States Football League team and a partner in the Apple Tree discotheque, the Yacht Club in Florida and various real estate ventures.

Sid was an excellent athlete and avid tennis player, competing in tournaments at the Middleburg Tennis Club well into his 80s. He was a devoted, lifelong Yankees and Washington Redskins fan. He was also a member of Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Middleburg Tennis Club in Middleburg, VA and a long-time congregant of Adas Israel synagogue.

Sid woke up every morning with a smile on his face. He adored his wife Peggy and thought he was the luckiest man in the world for marrying her. The two of them formed an awesome team – raising their children and living life to the fullest – dancing, traveling, and entertaining their many friends at their homes in Middleburg VA, Ventnor NJ, and Bethesda MD. Sid was an extremely loyal friend, and they were fun to be with. Sid was a great raconteur – captivating his audiences with cute stories and many (possibly off-color) jokes at which Peggy (and all of us) would groan.

Above all, Sid was the patriarch of our very large - and continually growing family. There was nothing he wouldn't do to help each of his children achieve their goals and dreams. And nothing made him happier than being surrounded by his ENTIRE family at our many family celebrations, trips and events. Sid beamed with pride over the legacy he had created.

Thanksgivings at the Farm in Middleburg were particularly special. Every year he reminded us of how "lucky we were to be born in America and have each others support." Sid was a truly wonderful grandfather and great-grandfather. "Zeyde", as they called him, loved taking them on walks for ice cream and showing them how to ride the ocean waves in Ventnor. He loved the shore - which is where he grew up - and his deep tan was evidence of that.

Sid had high morals and principles, firm convictions and unparalleled confidence. We will miss him belting out "Oh Danny Boy", "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" or "My Wild Irish Rose". He loved waltzes, ballet and big band music…and simply loved life.

We are extraordinarily proud to be his family and to carry forward the legacy of this truly remarkable man. Sid will be missed beyond measure, but his spirit lives on in every one of us.

Rest in peace, Big Sid.

Funeral Services will be on Monday, July 14 at 11 a.m. at Washington Hebrew Congregation - 3935 Macomb Street NW, Washington, DC - with interment immediately after at the Garden of Remembrance in Clarksburg MD. Shiva will be observed Monday July 14 and Tuesday July 15 at the home of Dan and Laurie Silver starting at 6 p.m. with a short service at 7 p.m.

Donations can be made in memory of Sidney J. Silver to: Suburban Hospital (donate.suburbanhospital.org) or George Washington Hospital's Heart & Vascular Institute (please note the donation should be made to Silver Family Foundation Fund for Heart Failure Research) or the Capitol Jewish Museum (capitaljewishmuseum.org/?form=AnnualFund). Donations can also be made to support Johns Hopkins research in neurology https://secure.jhu.edu/form/neuro rehabilitative medicine https://secure.jhu.edu/form/physmed or kidney transplant https://secure.jhu.edu/form/transplant.

Services Entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Funeral Care.