Robert Silverman

Bob was born in Walterboro, South Carolina on June 8, 1944, son of Leah Dimont and Manuel Silverman, and nephew of Max I. Dimont, a noted international author of Jewish history. Bob grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and attended Ohio State University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Bob received his Master's Degree in History from Western Reserve and began his life-long teaching career in Cleveland. He later obtained a Masters Degree in Gifted Education from the University of South Florida.

Bob married his first wife Sandi Berman while in Ohio. Soon afterwards, they settled in Florida where Bob obtained a teaching position at Skycrest Elementary in Clearwater teaching gifted and talented children. Bob and Sandi had two boys, Jeremy, now a prominent musician in the entertainment industry, and Jonathan Corey, who is now a lawyer.

In 1980, Bob married Karen Rosenberg Siani and adopted her son Aaron, who is now a general manager of a restaurant in Citrus Park, FL.

"Mr. Silverman" influenced and inspired many generations of gifted children in his 35 year teaching career. In addition to Skycrest Elementary, Bob taught at Safety Harbor Elementary, Sutherland Elementary in Palm Harbor and Oldsmar Elementary. Bob wrote his own units of study in law, creative thinking, inventions and architecture, which served as a model for the Pinellas County Gifted Department. Bob's gifted students were the first students to assemble motherboards for desktop computers in a program that received widespread acclaim. Bob shared his expertise in these areas with his colleagues at many Florida State educational conferences.

In addition to children's education, Bob was passionate about books and music. He played the clarinet, loved Dixieland jazz and was known to play a good comb and tissue paper "down by the riverside". Bob was also involved in Boy Scouts and served as a Webelos scout leader.

A man of many dimensions, Bob was intelligent, well read, thoughtful and charming with a great sense of humor. He was kind and generous, and believed in complimenting people in all walks of life who performed their jobs well, often calling out managers and bosses to let them know if a worker had performed beyond expectations. He felt strongly that one should know when he/she is doing a good job.

Bob and his wife Karen attended services at Bnai Emunah in Tarpon Springs.

Bob is survived by his wife Karen, the love of his life; son Aaron, daughter-in-law Teresa and grandson Joseph, 8, of Trinity, Fl; son Jeremy, daughter-in-law Katie and grandson Ian, 5, of Fort Myers, Fl; son Jonathan Corey and daughter-in-law Mandy of Trinity, Fl.; two brothers Arthur Silverman of Frederick, Md. and Richard Silverman of Chardon, Ohio and their families.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Mensa Educational & Research Fund or the Prostate Cancer Foundation.