Andover Townsman, Andover, MA

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July 30, 2009

Editorial: Silverman brought community together

Andover has a grand fireworks display each year. And for many years that has been because of the work of Gerald "Jerry" Silverman and his ubiquitous fundraising jars.

Silverman died on Monday after a long battle with cancer. But he will be missed for much more than those simple jars and the booming fireworks they produced. In fact, Silverman did his best work in far less obvious ways, by connecting people who could work together on community projects.

Silverman spent 18 years as a selectmen, and most of his life as an educator and volunteer, telling people he was taught to help others by his parents while growing up in Lawrence. He had a way of encouraging others to help out, too. Bill Fahey, Andover Youth Services director, said Silverman often had him attending events such as the annual Service Club luncheon in the Park. "You had to be over there because Jerry asked you to. He was one of those guys," said Fahey.

"What made Jerry truly unique - there were all the obvious things: his commitment to the town, his commitment to youth, his commitment to education, his commitment to his family, and serving as selectmen," said Rabbi Robert Goldstein of Silverman's Temple Emanuel. "But what made him unique is that Jerry in many ways was everyman. He wasn't on a pedestal. He was salt-of-the-earth in the very best way. You didn't get the sense that he wanted something from you."

"He was so genuine. He loved to help and while I never heard him ask for anything for himself, he would never stop asking if it was a cause he believed in. He just loved hearing about the successes of Andover's youth," said Marilyn Fitzgerald, Andover High girls swim team coach.

When a few Andover teachers wanted to travel abroad during the summer and could not meet the criteria for a loan from the local bank 45 years ago, he helped found the Andover Federal Credit union. His actual membership number was the first ever, 001. His involvement in town and in surrounding communities has continued throughout the decades, with groups from the Merrimack Valley YMCA, to Camp Bauercrest for Jewish boys, to almost countless Andover causes. Even in his final days, when he knew death was approaching, Silverman was committed to seeing the Fourth of July festivities go on as usual, and he asked that any contributions in his memory be donated to the Andover Youth Center Building Fund.

Silverman told Fahey he was going to do this about a month before his death. "With everything he was facing he said, 'I want you to know I want to see that youth center built for the kids.' That meant a lot of me because I know he had a lot of important causes that he was involved in. I was speechless," said Fahey.

Silverman's active life was devoted to family, friends and community-building. He served as a role model and advisor for those interested in public service. He will be missed, a great light in Andover's sky extinguished. He will be missed, not just when fireworks are booming but in the quiet moments when someone is needed to bring people together.

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Editorial: Silverman brought community together
by Anonymous , , Thu Jul 30, 2009, 05:01 AM EDT
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