Margaret “Peggy” Ann Silver (née McKewen), beloved wife of Sidney J. Silver; cherished mother of Patricia Silver (Jeffrey Trauberman), David Silver (Julie), Lisa Silver (Barry Kopit), Beth Lipset and Daniel Silver (Laurie); devoted grandmother of Jason Belinkie (Michelle), Jena Riley (Chris), Nikki Cole (Jason), Jacob Trauberman, Joshua Trauberman, Nathaniel Cannon (Maria), Marissa Moser (Jacob), Madison Cannon, Bailey Lipset, Braiden Lipset, Devin Silver and Sebastian Silver; great-grandmother to Siena Belinkie, Blake Riley, Jett Belinkie, Hayden Riley, Sloane Cole, Reid Cole, Austin Riley, Riley Moser and one-day-old Charlotte Cannon; beloved sister-in-law of Arnold Levin and aunt to Dawn, Daniel and Rebecca and many great nieces and nephews; predeceased by her brother Robert McKewen and sister Carol Stinner. She is also survived by her wonderful team: Helen, Alain, Juana, Bombi and Joven, Wilma, Lemueil and Charles.
Raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania, by hard-working parents, Peggy was the eldest of three children. She was smart, curious and athletic. At 18, she married the love of her life, Sidney Silver, a student at nearby Lehigh University. They moved to Washington, D.C., so Sid could attend law school. They had a beautiful love affair for 70+ years, raising five children and forming lifelong friendships.
Peggy was a true force of nature. She was determined, independent and fearless – never afraid to go anywhere, say anything or stand up for what she thought was just or fair. She had an insatiable thirst for knowledge, blessed with a mind that could digest complex information. She had a great fashion sense and was beautiful and immaculately dressed, even through the last days of her life.
Peggy was fiercely loyal to her friends and family and protective of her children. If you were her friend, there was nothing she would not do for you. Peggy had tremendous values and cared deeply for those less fortunate. She was enormously generous with her time, money and opinions. She performed hundreds of acts of anonymous kindness and was a strong supporter of several charities. Peggy was the foundation and matriarch of her family. Her home was the center of countless large family gatherings – Passover seders, birthdays and holiday dinners. Thanksgivings at her farm in Middleburg, Virginia, were always special. No matter what, Peggy made room for anyone who had nowhere to celebrate.
She had endless energy and needed very little sleep. She was a voracious reader and often read late into the night. Taking several courses a year at American University, she ultimately graduated with a degree in history when she was 58. Peggy enjoyed being a docent for the Smithsonian – especially for its medicine exhibit. With her passion for history, she loved sparking the curiosity of students on field trips. Peggy also served on numerous school committees and the Jewish National Fund board. She was a member of both Woodmont Country Club in Rockville and Middleburg Tennis Club in Middleburg, Virginia, and a longtime congregant at Adas Israel synagogue in D.C.
In her youth, Peggy played basketball and volleyball and was a skillful water skier. Later, she became an avid tennis player. She loved playing cards, mahjong, bridge, board games and dominoes. She was extremely competitive, especially when competing against her husband. Peggy adored her grandchildren. She took them to fine French restaurants when they were just toddlers, babysat and went to hundreds of sporting events, plays and Halloween parades. Nana loved them with all her heart, having special relationships with each. She was crazy about her great-grandchildren and loved watching them swim at her home. She had many deep friendships lasting decades, including groups from Bethesda, Maryland, Ventnor, New Jersey and Middleburg, Virginia. Peggy lived her life on her own terms – and to the absolute fullest.
She leaves behind an enormous legacy and many great adventures and hilarious stories about her determination, strength and chutzpah. We are proud to be her family. She will be missed. Rest in peace, Peggy.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in her memory to Jewish National Fund, Suburban Hospital or George Washington University Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Institute to support the important work of Dr. Gurusher Panjrath in Heart Failure: GW Heart & Vascular Institute c/o Lyndsay Pierson, PO Box 98131, Washington, D.C., 20077. In the memo, please place “In memory of Margaret Silver.”