Joan Silverman Obituary

1925 - 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Joan Silverman, née Levinson, age 96, in Great Barrington, MA on August 15, 2021. Born in Brooklyn in 1925, she was a teacher, historian and researcher, with many accomplishments in her long career. She graduated from Cornell University in 1946 and then went on to receive two Masters degrees from Columbia University. She taught both American history and sociology for 15 years at the Highland School in Jamaica, NY, where she was greatly loved by her students. She went back to college in her 50s and received her Ph.D. in American Civilization at NYU in 1979, and then taught classes in American and business history at several colleges as an adjunct assistant professor. She also worked at Citibank for many years as a researcher, editor and archivist.



She was witty, charming, and warm; read a wide variety of books; and loved to listen to classical music and to talk about politics and world affairs. She was married to her husband, mathematician and author Richard Silverman, for 69 years before he passed away in 2017. She was also predeceased by her son, Michael, in 2011. She is survived by her loving family-daughters Elizabeth Haddad and Kitty Silverman (Tony Zackin); grandchildren, Elias, Aluan and Leisa; and great-granddaughter, Chloe. We are grateful to have had Joan with us for so many years and will miss her greatly.



Donations in her memory can be made to: Library of Congress or mailed to: Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington, DC 20540-1400.