SIDNEY SILVERS –
NYC Educator and Decorated Veteran
Sidney Silvers, age 94, died peacefully on
March 19.2021, at his North Shore Towers
home surrounded by his loved ones. He was
born in Newark, NJ, and after graduating
from Monroe H. S. in the Bronx he enlisted
in the Navy at age 17 where he served as
a radar man during World War II. Sidney
often recounted his experiences in Guam
and various atolls in the Pacific Ocean to
his grandchildren with pride.
Always outgoing and gregarious, Sidney
became close friends with five other radar
men all through the war. One of them had
the idea that some day when the war ended
they should reunite as civilians and recall their
experiences. They came from different states
but shared this special bond. Someone had the
idea that they should have a visual reminder
of their friendship. They decided to tear a one
dollar bill into six pieces. Each man would
safeguard their piece and when the war ended
they would get together and join the pieces of
the dollar bill.
Sadly, one of the friends, Ed Tighe, died in an
accidental explosion and was buried at a military
cemetery in Guam before the war ended.
Sidney wrote, “There was a chaplain and navy
gunners at the funeral. They blew taps. I was
one of the pallbearers. I have never forgotten
it. We never wore our dress whites on the ship,
just dungarees, but we wore the whites at Ed’s
funeral. I remember the five of us folding the
flag into a triangle and it was sent home to his
family. I often thought of writing to the Tighe
family but couldn’t think of anything to say
that would make them feel better.”
Upon discharge and with the help of the GI
Bill, Sidney earned Bachelor’s and Master’s
degrees in Business Administration and
Education at Baruch College. It was there
that he met his wife, Shirley, to whom he was
happily married for 73 beautiful and adventurous
years. Sidney had a long gratifying career
with the New York City Board of Education
as teacher, guidance counselor, and Center
Administrator of Auxiliary Services for High
Schools. He was an ardent supporter of education
who energized his staff and was an
inspiration to his students. Sidney constantly
strove to make their lives better. Following his
career in education, he was the comptroller of
Pennystock Journal, a newsletter that guided
investors interested in penny stocks.
Shirley retired as Professor and Deputy
Chair of the Business Department at CUNY’s
Queensborough Community College.
Following retirement, she served as commencement
Coordinator for QCC’s graduation
exercises.
Sidney frequently thought of Ed Tighe. Thirty
years ago he saw a piece in Newsday that
mentioned Ed Tighe and his brother Donald.
He did a little detective work and was able to
contact Donald Tighe. The two men decided
they would have to meet and reminisce about
Ed. Donald suggested the Museum of Modern
Art which would be accessible to both.
And so, in March of 1991, Sidney sat on
a bench at the museum filled with great art
awaiting Ed’s brother. He opened a brown
paper bag he brought from home filled with
his own artifacts: his green diary, started in
April 1945, a chow card for the ship they were
both on, a red label from a bottle of Cuban
beer from the ship’s stop in Guantanamo Bay
and, most precious of all, a plastic card holder
with a scrap of a dollar bill in it. Sadly it never
quite got matched up. The image of the friends
folding of the flag into a triangle came back
vividly to Sidney. The two men met and had
an enjoyable reminiscence of their wonderful
friend and brother.
Sidney and Shirley enjoyed their retirement
and spent time in North Shore Towers,
Boca Raton, Florida, and the Berkshires in
Massachusetts. They were enthusiastic volunteers
at Lynn University, Crest and Wick
Theatres, Tanglewood, and North Shore
University Hospital. Sidney was an avid tennis
player through age 90. He loved the ocean,
wildlife and classical music.
Sidney will be remembered not only as a
proud, patriotic WWII veteran, but also as a
caring, kind, and gentle man with a dry sense of
humor and an unwavering devotion to his family.
He was the devoted father of Mara (Aaron),
Suzanne (Stephen) and Adam (Marla) and he
adored and cherished his grandchildren, Jack,
Jessica, Ben (Michelle), Danny (Julia), Andrew,
Kelli, Hillary, and Ryan. And great-grandson,
Lyle, now seventeen months old.
In their nine years at NST, Shirley and Sidney
were jubilant at making new friends and discovering
a treasure trove of old friends, colleagues,
and acquaintances from past years.
Shirley and Sidney Silvers
4 NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER ¢ January 2022