Larry Silverman

Larry was a fierce advocate for justice, particularly environmental justice, throughout his long and eclectic career. Larry loved a challenge: no client was ever too small -- or too underfunded. Starting as a “Nader’s Raider” in the late 1960s/early 1970s, Larry then worked with a number of national grassroots environmental groups, including American Clean Water Association, Clean Water Action, Environmental Task Force and Friends of Prakriti (which worked to build an environmental movement in Nepal). His environmental commitment extended to the D.C. area, where he spent many years with the Anacostia Watershed Society, including serving as President, seeking to restore “The People’s River.”

Larry also taught environmental public lands law to a generation of students in the John Hopkins’ masters of environmental science program, and practiced what he preached by helping the cities of New Bedford and Taunton, MA, the Port of Baltimore, among many others, to fund environmentally-progressive infrastructure. He co-authored the book Vanishing Air, which exposed hazardous conditions at a Union Carbide plant in West Virginia, among many reports about the pressing environmental and infrastructure issues of the day.

As recently as September ‘21, Larry was dispending his wisdom on how Congress should address infrastructure investment (“When it comes to infrastructure, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia is right. Passing a trillion-dollar infrastructure program without any Republican support would be exceedingly unwise… The great infrastructure bills in American history were not created by divided Congresses.”) Fittingly, Larry died on the 49th anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water Act of 1970, a law to which he dedicated much of his professional life.

Larry’s love of his first wife Susan (and financially strapped enterprises generally) also led him to become a reluctant bead mogul. He, Susan and son Abraham, soon joined by daughter Emily, started selling beads at the Bethesda Woman’s Market’s famous Wednesday flea market and at Eastern Market on most weekends. Eventually, the family opened S&A Beads in Takoma Park, MD, Georgetown DC and Rehoboth Beach Delaware. The store is now run by Emily in Takoma DC, while son Abe, inspired by his father’s infectious love of infrastructure, now works to build the next generation of clean energy infrastructure. Until recently, Larry could often be found behind the counter chatting up customers, dispensing bead-related wisdom, advocating for reform of Takoma Park’s storm water runoff plan, orchestrating the fight to stop Costco’s mega-gas station in Wheaton, or doing a seemingly endless supply of crossword puzzles.

Larry was exceptionally lucky to be loved by two extraordinary woman, his first wife Susan who died in 2006, and his second wife Kathleen Fern, who died earlier this year. His children from his first marriage, Abraham and Emily, were joined by the wonderful Fern family, including her daughter Katy and granddaughter Grace, who lived with Larry and Kathleen for many years. In recent months, Larry was often found in Princeton, NJ, with granddaughter Ada, working on craft sewing kits, for which he had no particular technical gift, but much love and enthusiasm.

There will be a service at the Adventist Church at 1:30 p.m at 6951 Carroll Ave, Takoma Park, MD 20912, followed by a Shiva at his long-time home in Takoma Park. Larry was always full of big dreams and optimism, which he shared infectiously with his clients, customers, family and friends. In this spirit, we will invite everyone to share their favorite stories and memories.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Larry's honor to the Anacostia Watershed Society, to which Larry devoted so much: https://anacostiaws.salsalabs.org/donate/index.html.