David L. Silvernail

“When you walk to the edge of all the light you have and take that first step into darkness of the unknown, you must believe that one of two things will happen: There will be something solid for you to stand upon or you will be taught to fly.”

___ Patrick Overton, The Leaning Tree

PORTLAND - David L. Silvernail, passed away in the early morning hours on July 13, 2025 at the Andwell Hospice House in Auburn from complications resulting from cancer. He was 79. His life partner, Judith Johnson and her children and grandchildren became David’s family decades ago. They were able to be with him at the end. David was beloved “Opa” to their grandchildren. There was no greater joy in his life than the family he and Judy shared.

In 2005 they bought a piece of land on the beautiful island of Deer Isle. There they built a cottage that became the family’s most favorite place to gather. When the children and grandchildren came to stay during the summers, those were David’s happiest times. Family was everything to him. Whether it was teaching the grandchildren how to dig clams, or helping them erect tents in which they loved to sleep, or providing water vessels for them to use in the summer, his joy was in interacting with and watching them have fun together! He was an amazing father figure to their shared children and grandfather to six grandchildren. They all loved their Opa.

David was born in Osceola, Wisconsin on April 5, 1946, the son of Alfred and Palma (Guzzo) Silvernail. His father was a Nazarene minister and pastored churches in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. David spent childhood years moving from state to state when his father was asked to “save another failing church” in a different state. As a youngster he learned to make friends easily but was also happy just being by himself. He learned woodworking at a young age and as an adult built beautiful furniture, much of which is housed in their homes and the cottage.

David was the kind, quiet and understated friend and family member who was always available to help with a problem or a task at hand. Whether it was helping to move Ross and Amy from Minnesota to Worcester, Massachusetts, or building a table for an electric train at Lou and Lesley’s home in Austin, or traveling to Massachusetts to care for infant grandsons, Jacob and Lucas on many occasions so their mom, Lara, could have some time for herself, he was there.

He was also always available to help friends, whether it was moving heavy boxes, or taking on a major research and evaluation project to fix a broken school funding formula, David was there for you. Whether his physical strength was needed or his unmatched skill in developing a detailed analysis of a statewide data set and coming up with a comprehensive set of policy recommendations, he did it with his quiet confidence and no fanfare.

David earned his Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Philosophy at Indiana University in Bloomington. After teaching high school social studies and coaching football during the years he pursued his degrees, he began his 43 year career at the University of Southern Maine (USM), first as a professor in the USM School of Education while also serving as the Director of the USM Testing and Assessment Center. Subsequently, he returned to the School of Education as a professor in the Graduate Education Program. His sections of the Research Methods course that was required for all graduate education students were always full with a waitlist. Even the most reluctant students appreciated David’s gift for explaining the importance and relevance of using evidence to make sound decisions. Several of his mentees discovered a passion for the topic and went on to earn advanced degrees and pursue careers in educational policy and research around the country as well as in Maine. As one of the founders of the doctoral program at USM in Public Policy, he mentored many students through the program and served on their doctoral committees.

After working for the University of Maine System office to help its Schools of Education work more closely with public schools in Maine, and serving as USM’s Associate Provost and Director of Graduate Education at the USM College of Education, David returned to the College of Education in 1990 as the founding director of the Center for Education Policy and Applied Research (CEPARE). His support for area school districts gained recognition at a time when state policy leaders were focused on establishing standards so that every Maine public school student had an equal opportunity for a high quality education regardless of the local community’s ability to provide the needed resources. Realizing the need for objective data to shape education policy, the Maine Legislature proposed a partnership with researchers at USM and the University of Maine, Orono, to help inform the work of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. With base support from the Legislature, the Maine Department of Education and the University of Maine System, the Maine Education Policy Research Institute (MEPRI) was established in 1995 with David and co-Director Walt McIntire from the University of Maine at the helm.

As the research consultant to a State Board of Education commission led by Wes Bonney, David led a MEPRI team in analyzing Maine’s costs of public education and by 1999 the first drafts of a new funding formula began to emerge. David’s work continued with additional study and painstakingly detailed legislative testimony over the next few years and the Essential Programs and Services (ESP) model was implemented in 2004-05. Among the first of its kind, Maine’s new funding law received national attention and David was often called to present his research to and consult for other states.

David’s leadership of CEPARE and MEPRI continued until his retirement from USM in 2015. During this time, he conducted numerous studies for the Legislature and the Maine Department of Education to inform Maine policy, including research on high and low performing schools and evaluation of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) in addition to continued analysis of the EPS school funding formula. He maintained his national stature through these projects and became highly sought as a consultant and program evaluator.

He continued to work on multi-year, federally funded education grants even in retirement, including an innovative teacher preparations program at the American Museum of Natural History in New York and a state-wide effort in Mississippi to improve the educational research capabilities in its four doctoral degree granting public universities.

David was also a generous supporter of many charities in Portland and throughout the state of Maine and beyond. Most recently he was involved in the Asylum Seekers Resettlement Mission through the Auburn United Methodist Church, providing much needed items to help more than 350 Asylum Seeking families settle in the twin cities of Lewiston and Auburn. David was a John Wesley soldier. He lived his life as a helper for anyone who needed it. As Wesley admonished humanity to “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can”, David lived his life this way.

David is predeceased by his father and mother, Alfred and Palma Silvernail and siblings, Elaine Robinson and Paul Silvernail. Also predeceasing him is Judy’s mother, Virginia A. Johnson with whom he had a special and caring relationship.

He is survived by his beloved life partner, Judith Johnson, her children, Lara Anthony and husband Arthur, Lou Talarico III and wife Lesley, Ross Talarico and wife Amy, his wonderful grandchildren, Jacob and Lucas Anthony, Elsa, Jack, Henry, and Harper Talarico and his acquired extended family Thomas, Mary Beth and Kate Johnson, and many members of Judy’s family. Also surviving him is his much loved family in Indiana: brother-in-law, Roger Robinson, nephew Todd Robinson and wife Lanarda, grandniece, Kortne Robinson, her sweet son, Asher, and his life long friend, Darryl Townsley of Missouri. David will be sorely missed but his legacy will live on through those who loved him and the work he did in his professional life.

Contributions to the David Silvernail Fund for Education Policy Research at USM may be made in his memory. The Fund is used to build capacity for high-quality applied research, including graduate assistantships and scholarships. Donations may be made online at:

http://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/49311/donations/new?a=8545180

by entering "David Silvernail Fund" in the 'other' designation.

Arrangements by The Fortin & Pinette Group, 305 Alfred A. Plourde Parkway in Lewiston, 784-4023. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.fortinpinettegrouplewiston.com .