Longtime Jewish communal leader Sandra “Sandy” Seltzer Silberman passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 19. The Pikesville resident was 89.
A graduate of Forest Park High School’s class of 1952, Silberman was the daughter of Jessie and Harry Seltzer. She graduated from Goucher College in 1956 and began her teaching career at Garrison Junior High School.
She and her husband, businessman and philanthropist Eugene I. Silberman, owned and operated the Resisto Tie Co., a necktie manufacturer based in Baltimore. They were married for 38 years until Gene Silberman’s death in November of 1995 at the age of 65.
“True to her optimistic spirit, Sandy moved forward, recounting not her losses but her blessings — the beautiful marriage they had, the adventures they shared, and the ever-growing family they created together,” her family posted on the website of Sol Levinson & Bros. funeral home.
As a community volunteer, Sandy Silberman served on many Jewish organizational boards over the decades. Notably, she served on the board of the Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital for 18 years, including in the role as chair.
“My parents were determined to improve our community and our world,” Debra S. Weinberg, former board chair of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, said on her biography on that organization’s website. “Volunteering speaks to how we were raised.”
In September of 2021, the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute Conversations Series, a virtual program exploring the stories and experiences of Jewish women from across the world, was renamed in Silberman’s honor.
“The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute mourns the loss of our beloved Conversations friend, Sandy Silberman,” said Dr. Lisa Fishbayn Joffe, the Shulamit Reinharz Director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute in Waltham, Massachusetts. “Sandy first connected with HBI in 2005 when, along with her daughter Debs Weinberg, who was then chair of the HBI board, she developed the concept of hosting book and author conversations in private homes. The first group met in Weinberg’s living room, as a multi-generational group of mothers and daughters, reading books by Jewish women together.
“Silberman loved to hear the authors speak, recalling in 2021 that ‘it makes the books come alive. I feel the inner emotion when someone talks about their own writing. We never stop learning and can be surprised at who our teachers are. This is learning in a life way and it’s more likely to hit you in your kishkes.'”
Dr. Joffe said the HBI became the Sandra Seltzer Silberman HBI Conversations Series “sponsored by Debs Weinberg to honor her mother Sandy’s love of learning about Jewish women’s lives. Today, HBI is grateful that the Sandra Seltzer Silberman HBI Conversations Series allows us to explore the diversity of Jewish women’s experiences around the world through literature, and to share HBI’s scholarship related to Jewish women’s and gender issues with an ever wider audience. “
In her spare time, Silberman was a crossword puzzle enthusiast, played Scrabble and Bridge, collected owl figurines, and enjoyed the aesthetics and healing powers of indoor plants.
She also thoroughly enjoyed Shabbat meals with family members and friends.
“Sandy’s four daughters, and later their husbands, brought her enormous joy and kavod [honor], and she reveled in her role as grandmother and Bubbe,” her family wrote. “Family (including the cousins clubs — the Singer Link and the Seltzer Tree) as well as friendships (some that spanned more than seven decades!) were at the core of her happiness.
“As important as creating a loving and welcoming home, Sandy enjoyed traveling and experiencing diverse cultures, people and cuisines.”
Silberman is survived by her children, Susan Liebeskind (Peter), Debra Weinberg (Joe), Amy Blow (Colin) and Joy Solomon (Michael); her grandchildren, Joe Liebeskind (Jenna), Sam Liebeskind (Katie), Adam Liebeskind, Dara Liebeskind, Jenna Weinberg (Jake Prosnit), Dani Dixon (AJ), Ben Weinberg, Emma Solomon, Jordana Solomon; step-grandchildren Simon Blow (Louise), Alix Holmes (Joe); her great-grandchildren Shay, Micah, Ronen; her step-great-grandchildren Emmie, Zach and Tommy; as well as her sister Toba Penny and dear nieces, Joanna Holzman (Nate) and Dina Shniderman (Scott).
Silberman was predeceased by her husband, parents and sister, Deanna Seltzer.
“As was her wish, Sandy died as she lived, surrounded by people she loved, in an atmosphere of gratitude for the blessings of her life,” her family wrote. “We are grateful to her devoted aide Judith Walcott who has been a great source of love and caring for Mom over these past two years.”
Funeral services for Silberman were held at Sol Levinson & Bros. in Pikesville on Wednesday, Sept. 20. Interment at United Hebrew Cemetery, 3901 Washington Blvd. in Arbutus.
Contributions in her memory may be sent to The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, 101 W. Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21201.
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