Eileen “Marty” Silverman
A long time ago, Eileen “Marty” Silverman moved to New Orleans. This was Marty’s first experience in a southern city, let alone the raucous, musical French Quarter of the 1970s. The day she arrived, she was so captivated by “the scene,” she kicked off her heels and began to dance down the street. Seeing her shoeless, a local man admonished her. “Hey! Don’t be such a turkey!” he yelled, suggesting she put her shoes back on. Instead, Marty laughed and instantly retorted, “I’m no turkey, but I sure can strut!” And she continued to parade down Bourbon Street, shoeless, dancing every step of the way. That was our Marty…
Born Eileen Martin in Philadelphia, PA on June 3, 1950, Marty came into this world with grace, intelligence and an unparalleled exuberance for life. She was a warm, sweet, brave, and selfless woman, who was quick to laugh, easy to like, and even easier to love. She wanted to play in, be challenged by, and enjoy this amazing gift called life. Marty felt blessed everyday that she could share this gift with her husband, Joel. Their life, their special love, and their family was the greatest source of happiness and pride for her.
You learned from Marty that to be great, was to be good. To be happy, was to be proud of oneself and to know love. Marty was a remarkable person who lived to inspire and help others; a trait that her family benefited from, most of all. She successfully created a home filled with music, singing, dancing, laughter, and so much love. Marty had an innate beauty based in kindness and managed to exist on a level that most people only dream of. She was always positive, even in the darkest of times. She was playful and smart, goofy and passionate, strong, and unbelievably wise.
Marty was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, great aunt, teacher, lawyer, and humanitarian. She was one of the first co-eds to graduate from Villanova University and after doing so in just three years, she moved to New York and began working for a company called Modern Maid. Marty was always a trailblazer and not only did she turn heads as a female factory manager, she also was one of the first
women in the country to operate IBM computers at a corporate level.
Later she graduated from Southwestern Law School and began working for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office, all while contemporaneously raising three girls. Marty was passionate about “the sisterhood” and always tried to help bolster her female colleagues. She was a voracious reader who loved her book club (and book club friends) very much. She enjoyed being a “Ukulele Lulu,” was a 20 year (plus) member of C.A.L.M., and President of the Assistance League in Santa Barbara. She felt her experience with the Assistance League was among the most rewarding times of her life. She believed they did the work of angels, always signing her emails with the phrase, “Angels fly because they take themselves lightly.”
On September 22, 2018, Eileen “Marty” Silverman passed away peacefully at her home in Santa Barbara surrounded by her loving family. She was 68 years old. Marty is survived by her husband Joel, daughters Jackie, Mika, and Piper (PJ), as well as her grandchildren Asher and Riley. She will be laid to rest in a private service for family and will then immediately depart to fly with the angels.
Fly on, Marty.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Assistance League of Santa Barbara. A memorial service will be held at the La Cumbre Country Club on Friday, October 5, from 12-2pm. Address: 4015 Via Laguna, Santa Barbara, CA 93110.