Obituary of David Silverstone
David Silverstone passed away peacefully on August 19, 2024 at home on Pine Ridge Rd in Larchmont NY. He would’ve been 92 on September 21. Born to Max and Rose (née Orliansky) Silverstone in Queens, NY, he lived his entire life as a New Yorker. He earned an Associates degree from Queens College and spent most of his career in advertising. Working more than 40 years for McCann-Erickson advertising agency, he was detail-oriented and thorough making him a favorite for many clients. He would fondly recall his work on iconic Coca Cola campaigns (The Real Thing and Coke Adds Life), Buick, Scotch whiskey, and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. He coined the slogan, “It’s Better in the Bahamas” for the Bahamas Tourism Agency. His work took him all around the world for campaigns in the Philippines, China, and Scotland. A passion for travel was ignited.
His greatest love was his wife, Caroline (née Hill) of 61 years whom he met at McCann and cajoled into joining him for a date at the Metropolitan Museum one evening. They were married at Manhattan’s City Hall and lived on 94th street where they brought their daughter, Eva into the world. They moved to Larchmont in 1968 and added Joshua to the family. David remained completely smitten with Caroline until his very last breath.
His belief in the power of hard work to move himself forward carried him through difficult times and helped him to make a comfortable life for his family. He also found time for leisure. Being out on the water was of enormous enjoyment for David. First on his sailboat and later on his 17’ Boston Whaler, “Chasin’ the Blues.” Fishing was a favorite pastime, chasing bluefish but mostly bringing home much smaller fish or just the memory of a good day out with his family. One memorable outing was when both Josh and Eva caught the same, very long eel from different ends of a rental motorboat from Harbor Island and David had to untangle the lines and keep the calm.
A lifelong learner, avid reader, and gregarious and curious conversationalist, he made friends everywhere. In quiet times he liked to tinker in his wood-shop, work on his boat, or dabble in one of his countless hobbies, (rock polishing, photography, writing and reading).
While, occasionally difficult and demanding, he was also very sweet. He was extremely loyal and devoted to those he loved and called his friends. We will miss his endearments and maybe a bit of his griping from time to time. Think of him whenever you are enjoying one of his favorite foods: linguini with clam sauce, chocolate chip cookies, or vanilla ice cream.
He was preceded in death by his half-brothers, Earl and Dan, and his son Joshua. He is survived by his wife Caroline Silverstone, daughter Eva Silverstone (Bradd Skubinna), and grandson Everett Skubinna; his sister Vida Wagner and her son Jesse Wagner (Ruth), as well as his many siblings-in-laws and their children and grandchildren.
Donations in his memory can be made to the New York Botanical Gardens (NYBG).