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Best wishes to you all –
I thought I would take a moment
to let friends know that my dad passed away peacefully May 1st at his home in
Key Biscayne, Florida after bravely enduring a long battle with brain cancer. He
lived with this illness for four years and did his best to fight it every day,
and did so with courage and even an inspiring sense of humor.
In light of his passing, I felt
compelled to share a little bit about his life and accomplishments.
He was an incredible man who
dedicated his life to making a difference. He had a wonderful spirit, was
vibrant, smart, caring and committed. He loved teaching me about golf, running
me around in circles on the basketball court, taking road trips and eating
desserts (any nearby – i.e. he got great pleasure from eating half my ice cream
in one bite or drinking my soda in one gulp). I remember long car rides merrily
filled with music; he would sing (not necessarily on-key) or he’d take one hand
off the wheel to “air-conduct” a classical concerto. He loved traveling and
exploring new places, hiking, camping, biking and horseback riding. He had some
memorable loves – he was greatly enamored with the sound of the bagpipes,
casually finishing a giant novel in one night, and dashing off scores of memos
(at one of his jobs he was known as the “Memo King”). He also enjoyed giving
hugs.
I am most proud of his
accomplishments at Rocky Flats. My dad was dedicated to making the world a
safer place. He worked in environmental management and cleanup, defense, oil and
gas regulation, and electric utility sectors. From 1993 to 1996, he was general
manager of the Department of Energy’s Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site
- the location of three of America’s “most dangerous buildings.” Here he led
more than 5,000 employees in deactivating this nuclear weapons production
complex, navigating his way through countless hurdles and miles of red tape. The
site is now on its way to becoming a National Wildlife Refuge.
For his work at Rocky Flats
(http://www.rfets.gov/doe), my dad was awarded the Presidential Distinguished
Rank Award by President Clinton in 1995 and the Secretary of Energy’s Gold
Medal Award in 1996. He retired from federal service in 1996, following 34 years
of military and government service. He was also profiled in Time Magazine.
Click here to see TIME article.
Stricken with polio at a young
age, my dad nevertheless fulfilled his dream of attending West Point and
graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. At West
Point, he was part of the Jewish Choir. He served four years in the Army with
the 82nd Airborne Division. He earned a Master of Arts degree from the Annenberg
School of the University of Pennsylvania and also served as an Adjunct
Professional at the University of Denver.
Many of you knew he was ill and
I just wanted to connect with you and thank you for the encouragement and
support you’ve been kind enough to provide.
All my love, Tamra
I’m so glad that so many were able to be with you and your family for Mark’s
service. Mark was truly a dear Friend to Pat, myself and our Classmates. He
knew each of us independently and collectively, all in a different way … but
similarly, in that he never failed to express his own personal sentiments or
demonstrate his faithful and enduring friendship with us all. But, after
hearing all his family speak, we are all honored and most thankful to have known
Mark, as it is now readily apparent that we each were merely treated like family
… where each of us shared our own small part of Mark’s life and world.
It is obvious to me that Mark was what I always knew him to be … consistent,
true as North … an unwavering Friend, respected Classmate; an outstanding
individual who never gave anything less than the very best he could deliver … as
just simply a great human being or dedicated professional in serving his
Country. The record speaks for itself !
I can assure you, Mark lives on in my heart and mind … in the very same place he
has always occupied for all these past years … and shall for years to come.
God bless him, all his good deeds and his great memory … as well as yourself,
Trish, all your Family … and lifelong friends.
Bruce Shroyer
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It is with a heavy heart, that Shane Olshansky shares details of his
recent visit with
Mark and Trish Silverman. Mark has been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. It has steadily impaired his
functioning to the point that he has just started receiving hospice care at his apartment in Key Biscayne ,FL. He is still
quite alert and can understand most of what you say, but his speech is greatly impaired and it is difficult to understand
much of what he says.
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