Harold Silverman, was born in San Francisco, on 24 March, 1895 to Adolph Silverman and Fredericka Dinkelspiel. His sister, Alice Silverman Benioff, was my grandmother.
It seems that he and Alice were not close and he argued a great deal with his father. I think he had been close to his mother, but she died in 1914, when he was 19 years old. Harold did not go to college.
He married twice, first to Elizabeth (Betty) Opal Stewart, on 5 April, 1940, in San Francisco. The couple traveled immediately to Honolulu aboard the S.S. Matsonia, First Class. At the time of their marriage, he was 44 and she was 23. She was a nurse. She and Harold met because Elizabeth was his father Adolph’s nurse. The rumor is that Betty became pregnant in 1942 and then had an abortion to which Harold objected. They divorced in October of 1942.
Subsequently he met Marguerite Winifred Tucker at a political party, apparently they were the only two at the party that were happy when FDR died. They were both staunch republicans. They married on 14 March 1947. They had no children. According to Dagmar B. Friedman, (Harold’s neice), Harold liked to tell dirty jokes at dinner. They both smoked and drank. But Dagmar says that they always brought them really nice and expensive gifts, such as beautiful bathrobes, and things from Gumps or candies from Blums picked out by Marguerite. Marguerite was also a weaver and made a set of beautiful place mats and napkins in white and silver (see photo gallery). Marguerite had been married previously also, to Willis George Potter in 1926, when she was 16, in the Lutheran Evangelical Church, in Idaho. They divorced 4 years later on July 31 1930 on grounds of nonsupport by Potter. She called Harold “Pappy”.
Harold was a businessman and owned a clothing shop with his father, in Oakland, called Toggery. Later in life he became an investment counselor and worked for Stone and Youngberg in San Francisco. He was a Lieutenant in the Army. As an adult he was tall (6 feet) and slender, with dark brown eyes and brown hair.
He was an avid fisherman and was often mentioned in the newspaper with his friend Alfred Benjamin Saroni (1881-1961) after a good catch.
Harold and Marguerite moved to a senior living community (Carmel Valley Manor) in 1971.
Harold died in Carmel, CA on 24 January, 1980. Marguerite died 1 February, 1985 in Monterey, California.
May 2 1930
Alice Dear. —
Well, well, at last the great day has arrived and now my heartiest congratulations to mama and papa. I have been “uncled” to death and you know I rather like it to say the least. Yesterday being the first of May, I was out fishing and did not get home until very late. There was a note on my pillow from dad telling me I was an uncle and he was “grand pa”. To-day I read Hugo’s letter and feel darn glad everything is going so well. Please take care of yourself and stay in the hospital 2 weeks no less. I was talking to somebody here who knows and while you may be very anxious to get home the few extra days may save you some trouble at a later date. Please give this some tho’t!
The family committee of two consisting of grandpa and uncle are wondering where you picked up such a name for a perfectly wonderful baby. We object and recommend the following action be taken – that you summit a list of others and that thru arbitration a decision is made. Now that you have plenty of time with no housecleaning to be done everything being in apple pie order you have plenty of time to think up a good one. Well darling take care of yourself and if in doubt when taking care of little “?” write Uncle Moritz who is still prescribing soup for all ailments. Love to you, Hugo and the baby –
From
Harold
Hugo to Alice 11.8.1942 – “I am sorry to hear that Betty is asking Harold for a divorce. It was inevitable. I do not think Harold will take it as hard as you think because he has been conditioned for it by her behavior in the last few years. Moreover they had very little in common and no deep relationship was ever established. It will hurt his ego more than anything else.
Your father will suffer most because Harold will come home to live again and the battle will begin again with Harold more bitter than ever.”
Adolph to Alice 11.12.1942 – “Received also a letter from Betty, Monday, of her wonderful trip to Palm Springs. I have answered her letter. Julie{Mainzer} will write to you. Betty will not return before Nov 20th about. I will let you know when she comes home. I suggested to Harold yesterday when he called, Saroni, Beatrice and yourself to meet Betty, but Harold said absolutely no not to come up and interfere. I think you know Betty needs a Doctor and not a Lawyer.”
Hugo to Alice 11.22.1942 – “Have you heard anymore from Harold? I wrote your father some weeks ago but have not heard from him. I did not of course mention Harold and Betty.”
Adolph to Alice 11.26.1942 – “Betty arrived home yesterday I rang up Betty and Harold this morning and wished them a happy Thanksgiving, Betty has a cold but will call this afternoon maybe.”
Hugo to Alice 12.12.1942 – “I am sorry your father is not so well. I knew something was wrong when he did not answer my letter. I agree with you that Betty is no finer than Harold. The whole situation should be terminated. She never did care for him and all of this going to Palm Springs etc. is a farce. The alimony is unadulterated robbery.”
Hugo to Alice 12.15.1942 – “Is Harold going to come back to live with your father?”
Hugo to Alice 7.20.1943 –
“I don’t understand Betty’s hanging on to Harold unless she is getting money from him.”
Hugo to Alice 10.22.1945 –
“I am sorry Harold is not well – of course it will be satisfactory to me for him to visit us.:
