Dr. Joseph A. Silverman

SILVERMAN – Dr. Joseph A., 81 of Tenafly, NJ passed away on May 7, 2012 at The Jewish Home at Rockleigh, NJ due to complications of Parkinson’s disease. A funeral service will be held at Gutterman-Musicant Jewish Funeral Directors, 402 Park Street in Hackensack, NJ on Wednesday, May 9th at 12:00 noon followed by an interment at Riverside Cemetery in Rochelle Park, NJ. Shiva will follow at the home of his daughter, Carol Silverman-Kurt z in Tenafly, NJ.

Born in Clifton, NJ on April 24, 1931 to Gertrude & Irving Silverman, M.D., Dr. Silverman was Clifton High School Valedictorian (’48), a Princeton University alumnus (’52), earned his medical degree at College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University (’56) and did a pediatric internship at Children’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School. This was followed by 2 years in the U.S. Air Force as a medical officer- rank of Captain, serving for 1 year in Goose Bay, Labrador with the Strategic Air Command and the second year at Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire. During his stint in Labrador, he volunteered as a pediatrician with the Grenfell mission, flying to Indian Villages to treat children without access to medical care. During the years of 1958-60, he did his pediatric residency at Babies Hospital, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

A distinguished pediatrician and renowned international eating disorder expert with a clinical and academic interest in the characteristics and treatment of anorexia nervosa, Dr. Silverman maintained a private practice for over 4 decades and held a faculty appointment at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons – rising to the ranks of Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Attending Physician.

Dr. Silverman was predeceased by his beloved wife, Joy Myers Silverman following 43 years of marriage and is survived by his four children, Carol A. Silverman-Kurtz of Tenafly, NJ; Elizabeth Stewart of Longmont, CO; Ted Silverman of San Francisco, CA ; John Silverman of San Francisco, CA; his brother, Michael Silverman, M.D. of Boca Raton, FL; his sister, Ethel Siris, M.D. of Demarest, NJ; his four grandchildren, Alex and Samantha Kurtz, Lily Stewart and Stuart Silverman; his son-in-law, Barry Kurtz and his daughter-in-law, Kristin Silverman. Contributions can be sent to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.