SILVERBURG, Herbert Asher "Ash", Jr.
died in Tucson on October 21, 2021 after a brief illness. He was born in Muncie, Indiana in 1932 to Herbert Asher Silverburg, Sr. and Naomi Silverburg and attended Burris High School. He enrolled at Ball State University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He interrupted his studies to enlist in the Army, where he served in Korea and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service. Returning to Ball State, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education. In 1955, he married Barbara Buckels, to whom he was married for 56 years until her death.
After two years of teaching in Michigan they moved to Tucson, in search of adventure and better weather. He taught at Townsend Junior High and Palo Verde High, where he was for many years the chairman of the English department. Teaching was one of his great joys, and his proudest moments were when he felt he'd made a difference in the life of a student. He was an enthusiastic skier and tennis player and enjoyed movies, art collecting, and wine tasting. He was a longtime member of Catalina United Methodist Church, where he served as an usher for many years. After his retirement in 1989, he was a dedicated volunteer for the Pima County Democratic Party and attended several national conventions as a delegate. He and Barbara also enjoyed traveling and took road trips across the country as well as cruises around Europe and Africa.
He is survived by his daughter, Ashley Silverburg; son-in-law, Ted Bunn; sister, Toby Green and nieces and nephews, Betsy Green Marsh, Asher Green, and Bill Green.
A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Catalina United Methodist Church. (Masks required, please.) In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Casa de los Niños or the Community Food Bank. Arrangements by OASIS CREMATION AND FUNERAL CARE.
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Allen Kalpin
I read the name - and slowly it came back to me. Mr. Silverberg. He had a lasting postive impact on my life. The true enthusiasm, insight, and intelligence with which he presented great works of English literature helped this world of novels and ideas to come to life for me. There was something cool and hip about him that seemed refrishingly different from most other teachers. He was also a very sharp dresser (but that did not rub off on me.)
Allen Kalpin
Ontario, Canada
Steve Alcorn
I agree with Allen Kalpin, "Mr.Silverberg" (Do kids today still call teachers Mr, Miss, or Mrs?) was a great teacher and had a knack for keeping the class attention during our very early morning double sessions. He also had a dry wit. One morning towards the end of my senior year he asked what my plans were after graduation. When I told him I wasn't sure yet he said slyly, "Well, you can't come back here!" I thought that was pretty amusing but the reality also hit home. He was a memorable person. -Steve Alcorn
Miriam (Aka Skeeter) Fox (Marcus)
Mr. Silverberg was suave, funny, and cool--but he was also probably the best teacher I had. He was my teacher at Townsend Junior (that's what we called it) High and to my delight, his student again at Palo Verde. He encouraged us by engaging us in serious discussions and having high expectations of us. We felt respected. In turn, we respected him, took what he offered, and learned.
Robert Schock
Best English teacher I ever had at any grade level - including college. Being introduced, really introduced, to the classics made me look at literature in a different way. And all forms of literature - to this day my favorite play is still "Cyrano de Bergerac". Being in theatre at Palo Verde, he had me read the part of Cyrano out loud in the class as we studied this play. Still have a copy of not only the play but the movie with Jose Ferrer (the original, of course. Ferrer IS Cyrano). Being married to a teacher for the past 43 years, know this is one of the characteristics of not just a good, but great teacher - that you learned things that still resonate 53 years later. And, you remember where you learned them.