Karen Silverman

Karen Anne Leopold Silverman, 76, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully with her husband and children by her side following a courageous battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Ivan Silverman; two daughters, Elisa (Brett) Arnow and Debbie (Chris) Zehetmaier, both of Cincinnati; son Douglas (Lisa) Silverman of Raleigh, N.C., and five grandchildren: Jacob and David Arnow, Hannah and Ethan Silverman and Sophia Zehetmaier. Karen will be remembered for the kindness she demonstrated to family, friends, and the thousands of children she worked with throughout her career. While serving more than two decades as a speech and language therapist in the Lakota Local Schools in West Chester, Ohio, Karen focused on the strengths of every child. She crusaded for children with special needs to be included with other students long before this concept became popular in education. Her compassion for students with disabilities blended into her personal life, teaching her own children the importance of recognizing that every individual is a gem to be cherished. In addition, Karen was an advocate for children through her charitable work as a president of the local Kindervelt chapter, which raises money for Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She derived great joy from purchasing furnishings and other household items for apartments that Lighthouse Youth & Family Services offers to homeless young adults. Karen was proud to be a life member of Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, which supports medical care and research in Israel. Her family’s ties to that group date back to 1913, when her grandmother, Elsa Rogat became the first president of the Hadassah Chapter in Cleveland, Ohio. Karen taught religious school at Rockdale Temple from 1968-86. She was a member of the Adath Israel Congregation Sisterhood. Karen enjoyed the arts, especially visiting the Cincinnati Art Museum and attending shows at Playhouse in the Park for more than 50 years. Born Aug. 1, 1946, in Cleveland, Ohio, Karen was the only child of Sonia Hadassah Rogat Leopold and Harold Leopold. After moving to the Cincinnati area in the 1960s, she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The University of Cincinnati. During her college years, she met her future husband, Ivan Silverman; they married on June 8, 1969, in the Cleveland area before making their home in Cincinnati. In 1976, the couple moved to Montgomery, where Ivan served as a city councilman and mayor during the 1980s and ‘90s. During that time, Karen became known as a gracious hostess for local politicians, often holding gatherings in their home. She also served as a precinct executive in Hamilton County for 25 years. Funeral Service Tuesday, June 27, 1:00 PM at Weil Kahn Funeral Home, 8350 Cornell Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45249. Visitation at the funeral home will begin at 12:00 PM. Minyan services will be held Tuesday and Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM at Adath Israel Congregation, 3201 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236. The family will receive visitors at Adath Israel both evenings beginning at 6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Hospice of Cincinnati https://hospiceofcincinnati.org/, Ronald McDonald House https://www.rmhcincinnati.org/, The Spina Bifida Coalition https://www.sb-coalition.org/, Adath Israel Congregation https://www.adath-israel.org/, or a charity of one’s choice would be appreciated.

Tributes

Karen Silverman

August 1, 1946 - June 23, 2023