Dr. Silverstone was educated at Stoneham School in Reading, UK and was honored as Head Boy of School to supervise school discipline and was House Captain of Athletics. Prior to entering college, Dr. Silverstone served in the Royal Air Force flying Supermarine Spitfires. In 1959, he obtained his pre-medical education Queen Mary’s College, University of London, and his professional degrees from the Royal College of Surgeons of England and the University of Leeds School of Dental Surgery. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Bristol, UK in 1967 (Pathology/Histopathology) and became the first recipient of the D.D.Sc. degree by thesis from the University of Leeds, UK in 1971.
In 1964 Leon married Susan Silverstone (nee’ Petyan) and over the next 7 years had three children together: Samantha, Frances, and Mark.
In 1973 Leon was appointed a consultant to the World Health Organization, (WHO), with special interest in the Caribbean and Latin America; under the auspices of the Pan-American Health Organization, (PAHO), via their head office in Washington D.C. Over a twelve-year period, he carried out field assignments, mainly concerned with identifying atypical diseases in rural areas and designing treatment approaches.
In 1976, Dr. Silverstone moved his family to the United States of America where he was offered the Dean of Research at the University of Iowa School of Dentistry. In 1982, Dr. Silverstone moved his family again to accept the Dean of Research at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Silverstone was also a member of several National Institute of Health, (NIH), committees and the author of more than 500 research publications and books.
In 1989, after over 25 years in full-time academia, Dr. Silverstone joined the private sector to research pain and develop non-invasive neuromodulation devices to treat a multitude of diseases. It was at this time that the family moved again to California.
Leon and Susan divorced in 1996. In 1998, Leon met and married Deborah Glenn.
Leon had a love of family and animals and had a wicked sense of humor. He loved running, horseback riding, and riding his Harley Davidson. He loved old spaghetti westerns and was known for his fine collection of cowboy hats and boots.
Leon is survived by his wife, Deborah and his children: Samantha Zidbeck (Scott), Frances Thorpe (Jack), Mark Silverstone (Tracey); Kaveri Advani (Michael), Natasha Chib (Nikhil); his two brothers Terry Silverstone (Corinne), Alan Silverston (Jennifer), and his nine grandchildren: Jordyn, Matthew, Cole, Sydni, Sarah, Caroline, Luke, Hannah, and Miya.
