New Haven Oral History Project
Funeral services took place Sunday for Robert H. Silverman, a retired tailor, a former New Haven alderman, and the first Jewish police officer in the city of Shelton.
Silverman died Friday night at the age of 82.
His funeral took place at Shure Funeral Home, 543 George St., in New Haven followed by burial at the Independent New Haven Lodge Cemetery, Brockett Place, East Haven.
Silverman was born in New Haven, Jan. 27, 1930, the son of the late Max & Lillian (Sewitch) Silverman. He was the beloved father of Ina (Jay Sokolow) Silverman of New Haven and Abraham (Debra) Silverman of West Hartford; the brother of Sidney Silverman of Rockville, Maryland, and Eunice Silverman of Cape Coral, Florida; and the grandfather of Shai, Avital, Nathan, and Matthew.
He represented Westville on New Haven’s Board of Aldermen and lived his entire life in the city. His memories of the old Oak Street neighborhood were part of an exhibit on urban renewal presented at the New Haven Museum; click here on this online archive to listen to an audio excerpt of an interview with Silverman about his memories of the period. His many civic activities included membership in the Masons and stewardship of the Hebrew Burial and Loan Association. He retired as a patrolman from the Shelton police department in the early 1990s.
He was a great guy, and a great storyteller.
Bob's family wishes to thank everyone for their support. Bob was quite a character and a gifted jack-of-all-trades. He is already sorely missed by his large circle of family and friends.