Martin Silverman

Martin Emanuel Silverman

1939 – 2026

“Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.” ~Guy Lombardo

Martin Emanuel Silverman, 87 years old, listened with his eyes closed to virtual Rosh Hashanah services and was surrounded by family when he breathed his last breath in the very early morning of September 12, 2026. He had delighted in eating two Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars only hours before. 

A two-time cancer survivor, Marty lived for the past five years with stable and asymptomatic chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Last week, we sadly learned that the leukemia suddenly and unexpectedly had transformed into an acute and aggressive blood cancer. Martin peacefully left this world less than two days later.

Born on May 26, 1939 in Lakewood, NJ to Michael and Etta Silverman, Marty grew up with his two brothers in an Orthodox Jewish family, riding bikes through town, resisting rock-and-roll, eating his mother’s peach pie, and loving his Airedale Terriers sequentially named Boots 1 and Boots 2.

An early reader, Martin loved reading until the last moments of his life, literally leaving an open book sitting on his kitchen table. He could finish four 500+ page books during one Thanksgiving weekend, disappearing into biographies, historical non-fiction, politics, and absolutely anything about old-time radio shows and music. Marty also loved appearing around the world, for example meeting his younger brother Jon who had just finished in the Peace Corps in 1968 and traveling together in Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan. He took at least one trip, possibly more, to Israel “to see his trees,” the trees he had donated throughout his young adulthood.

Marty was an extremely talented musician, since childhood playing multiple woodwind instruments and for decades as an adult performing in Big Bands at the Jersey Shore and in pit bands for local high school and community theater productions. He played Happy Birthday on his flute to any and every family member and friend he could, whether in person or over the phone, always ending with a perfect trill. In Lakewood, he served on the Board of the local union chapter of the American Federation of Musicians with his lifelong musician friends. Martin was a deep fountain and waterfall of knowledge, especially about music of the 1930s-50s, Guy Lombardo, trains—he could describe in detail nearly any train car, train route, and subway map in the Northeast and beyond—along with all things Nixon. 

Martin attended Cornell University where he studied political science and then went on to earn his LL.B. (J.D.) from Rutgers University. He dedicated his more than 60-year career to the practice of estate planning law, mentoring colleagues and serving every client with a kind, attentive (to every detail!), humble, and generous heart.

Upon meeting Priscilla Snow Algava at a Rosh Hashanah party in 1994 and getting married in November of 2000, Martin joined a new family while also bringing the Algavas and Snows into his Silverman sphere. The lone conservative in his big family full of progressives, Marty held tightly to his politics while still sharing his unconditional love with family, friends, clients and anyone he encountered. His unparalleled devotion to Priscilla was evident in his patient and adoring ways. Martin accompanied Priscilla wherever she wandered, while she painted, taught art classes, shopped, attended art openings and lectures, or visited museums again and again. They relished countless meals at Mediterra in Princeton, their favorite restaurant in the universe. Most of all, Marty loved traveling in Greece with Priscilla every summer—to Thessaloniki, Santorini, and Paros, their most favorite places in the world—where they visited the Greek relatives of Priscilla’s former husband, aka “wuzband,” Andy.

A Jersey Boy indeed, Martin lived in Lakewood and Princeton before moving to Bordentown, NJ in 2020, where during the last few years he enjoyed his daily 30-minute walks around his small neighborhood. He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Priscilla Snow Algava, his parents Michael Philip and Etta Tockman Silverman and his sister-in-law Judy Silverman. The middle of three sons, Marty is survived by two loving brothers and one sister-in-law, Bob Silverman (Louise) and Jon Silverman; five nephews and nieces, Alex Silverman, Jared Silverman, Jenny Lapidus (Steve), Aaron Silverman, and Mark Silverman; his stepdaughters who he unconditionally embraced as daughters, Alisa and Carin Algava (Michael Gow); Juliann Chambers who cared deeply for Martin as her own parent; and cherished grandchildren Drew and Phoenyx Algava, Renae Manahan and Lacy-ann Mackenzie. 

Marty’s boundless love of family, music, reading, and ice cream will live forever in the minds, hearts and souls of all who knew and loved him. As Guy Lombardo and Marty so clearly understood, we must slow down and enjoy every moment of life while we can. Please savor some chocolate ice cream with whomever you call family to celebrate our kind-hearted, gentle and caretaking Marty who blessed us with his presence.

Martin’s loved ones will gather for a graveside service on Friday, September 18 at 2pm at Fountain Lawn Memorial Park (Hebrew Gardens section), 545 Eggert Crossing Road, Ewing Township, NJ. Please enter at Park Avenue (2nd entrance, not main entrance) no later than 1:45pm.

Contributions in Martin’s memory may be made to the Priscilla Snow Algava Scholarship at West Windsor Arts or The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie.

Funeral arrangements are by Orlands Ewing Memorial Chapel.

OrlandsMemorialChapel.com/Martin-Silverman