Sam Silberberg

He fought to escape the hunger and persecution of the Holocaust. Inspired by the Zionist movement, he fought for Israel’s independence in the 1948 war. He fought to get into Rochester Institute of Technology, determined to prove himself as a capable student. He fought to win over Anita’s strict Hungarian family, determined to marry the woman he loved. And many decades later, he fought as his body began to decline.

On Monday, November 2, Sam Silberberg stopped fighting. Not because he gave up, but because, after a lifetime of extraordinary resilience, he was ready to be at peace. He passed away in Laguna Woods, California.

Sam survived the Holocaust at the tender age of fourteen, losing loved ones and enduring unimaginable hardship. But his will to live never wavered. Fierce, strong-headed, scrappy, and hilariously spicy, he went on to build a family of his own in New York with his wife, Anita, where they raised their two children, Ilana and David. He was a proud grandfather to Jahnna and Jeremy. Most recently, he attended Jahnna’s wedding, a testament to his determination to triumph over his physical limitations, and they shared a very special dance.

Sam went on to write From Hell to the Promised Land, a book chronicling his story of survival. He traveled to schools, universities, and synagogues to share his experiences with younger generations, making sure that his story, and the stories of those who did not survive, would never be forgotten.

Sam always lived his way. He loved to be outside in the sun, picking figs off trees and used his shirt as a basket to carry them. He traversed challenging hiking trails in the California foothills, like Stagecoach and Blackjack, even when he needed walking poles later in life. He repurposed every scrap of food because he couldn’t bear waste, loved to cook with his big hands, and made his own Vishnik, a cherry liqueur that was always too strong. He challenged anyone to an arm wrestle, cracked off color jokes, and squeezed your shoulder hard, lovingly.

His vigorous spirit will never be forgotten, his legacy will live on.