Obituary

Michael L. Silverman, 83 died peacefully on March 13, 2022. Michael was born in Chicago, on August 9, 1938, to Kenneth and Sadie Silverman. He was proud to serve his country as an Airman 1st Class in the United States Air Force working as a mechanic. He married Masha Rochelle Tankus on January 23, 1960. The couple lived and raised their family in Arlington Heights where Michael co-owned Heights Cleaners and Draperies, a family business. Michael was actively involved in the Arlington Heights community where he served for 20 plus years on the Plan Commission, the Chamber of Commerce and numerous other organizations and community boards always in a leadership role. Michael was also a proud Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow. His door was always open to strangers and committed his life to helping others. Michael’s love of sports presented the opportunity to work with the coaching staff of the Chicago Bears by documenting plays via Polaroid for their evaluation during the games. He was fortunate to travel with the team and became personal friends with several football legends over the 18 years he spent with the Bears. Michael helped many realize their dreams. At the age of 57, he also followed his own dream and started First Northwest Bank, a community bank, now Village Bank and Trust. Mike continued to serve on their Board of Directors until this past May. Over Michael’s life, he overcame many health obstacles that never seem to set him back from contributing to his family, community, and charities. His most noteworthy undergoing his heart transplant in 2007. The transplant was a miracle that not only saved his life, but also birthed the inception of Heart to Heart, a charity formed by Michael and Masha. Heart to Heart originally raised money for research focused on difficult to match cardiac transplants, as Michael was considered a difficult match. The goal of the research was to make the matching process easier and available to more individuals. Currently the focus of Heart to Heart’s contributions to Northwestern Memorial Foundation are directed to money towards renal failure. Michael was an adored father of Mara (Randy) Hauser, Mark Silverman, Sheryl (Tim) Lintner, and Lisa (Ryan) Anderson; proud grandfather of Samantha, Austin, Emily, Kendra, Lauryn, Kyle, and Jordan; treasured brother of Phyllis (Sheldon) Kramer, Steven (Sara) Silverman, Donna and David Lerner and Caren Tankus. He celebrated family and friends who were like family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Michael Silverman’s memory to support nephrology at Northwestern Medicine (www.foundation.nm.org). Chapel service, Wednesday, March 16, 2022, 2:30 PM at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights, IL. Interment Shalom Memorial Park. For the link to view the service, shiva information and to leave condolences: Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, www.shalommemorial.org or (847) 255-3520.

Service Information

Service : Wednesday, March 16th at 2:30 pm
Service Location: Shalom Chapel Service -Shalom Memorial Funeral Home

Interment:
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 W. Rand Road
Arlington Heights

Guest Book & Memories

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December 16th, 2023

Mike was always fun to be around. He had an upbeat personality and was friendly and entertaining. He will be missed.

~Janis Tenner Frankel
~Friend, Chicago

March 22nd, 2022

BD”E!
I was sad to learn today of Michael’s passing. I fondly remember our childhood days living on 19th street and Jackson Blvd, hitching our way to Austin High School in the morning and sharing our friendship growing up. May your family always remember the good times and and savor those wonderful memories.
Stuart Zelden & family

~Stuart Zelden
~Friend, Los Angeles, CA

March 18th, 2022

Dear Silverman Family,
Please accept our deep sympathy on Mike’s passing. You must be so proud of the exceptional man he was. May your many wonderful memories help you through this sad, difficult time, and give you comfort.
With love and respect.
Jill (Adelman) and Joel Miller

~Jill Adelman Miller
~Friend, Northbrook, Il.

March 16th, 2022

Dear Mark, Mara, Sheryl and Lisa

Please accept our sincerest condolences and prayers. It has been an honor and a privilege to have known your father professionally and as true friend. He will be missed. We will be making a contribution to the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights, in his name.

In love and prayers always,

The ADAMS family
Rodney, Wendy, Katherine, Calliope and Ruben

~Rodney and Wendy Adams
~Friends, Prospect Heights

March 16th, 2022

Sorry for your loss. The community will miss Mike’s many achievements.

~Norm & Roz Breyer
~Friend, Arlington Hts

March 16th, 2022

I so sorry I can’t be with you today but my heart is there. Everyone who knew Mike knows what a good guy he was. His memory will be with all of us forever.

~Maureen Altschul Wallace
~cousin, Iowa City, IA

March 15th, 2022

Our condolences to Mara, Mark, Sheryl, Lisa, and the entire family. May Mike rest in peacefulness. My dad (Bill Seiler) will be waiting for him with open arms. Big reunion in Heaven this week. All of us are sending our thoughts and love to all of you.

Love Always,
The Seiler Family

~The Seiler Family
~Family Friends, Arlington Heights, IL

March 15th, 2022

Silverman Family, So sorry to hear of this sad news this morning in Indianapolis As a friend and customer since the late 1960’s, Mike was a class act in everything he did, whether operating Heights Cleaners, working or talking “da Bears”, developing ideas for the Village of Arlington Hts. or providing advice of where to put your savings, Mike was a person you could trust. Along with his great smile and laugh, I realize how lucky I was to have had him as a friend. As the tears begin to fade and in the months and years to come, just remember all the great times shared as family. שָׁלוֹם

~Chuck Heinrich (AHPD Ret)
~Friend, Indianapolis

March 14th, 2022

RIP Mike. This man accomplished so much in his life. More than that: he never met a person who didn’t become his friend. Fortunately, I was one of those people to become Mike’s friend. Arlington Heights is a better place because of Michael Silverman. Good thoughts to Mark, Mara, Sheryl and Lisa.

~Todd Birch
~Friend, Marco Island, FL

March 14th, 2022

Photo of Michael Silverman provided by family William Pemberton

Photo of Mr. Michael Silverman

~William Pemberton
~Funeral Director, Arlington Heights

  • Photo By William Pemberton : Photo of Michael Silverman provided by family

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