Dr. Irwin A. Silverstone

Irwin Aaron Silverstone was born in Newark, New Jersey, on October 8, 1927, to Rose and Julius Silverstone. The family later moved to Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, and Bronx Park South. As a child growing up during the Depression, Irwin helped his mother by carrying boxes of food up the stairs to needy families and later assisted his family by working at the Bronx Zoo Restaurant washing dishes. He graduated from James Monroe High School in the Bronx. During WW II, he enlisted into the U.S. Army, at age 17. Under the GI Bill, he graduated from Hunter College in the Bronx, where he studied engineering. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, where he met Raquel (Rachel) Noguera, a native of Spain, who was working as a nurse. They married on Bastille Day, July 14, 1957.
His career took him to various hospitals in New Jersey, Michigan, and Ohio, finally settling in Dover in 1966. He worked as a Radiologist at Union Hospital, Dover, and Pomerene Hospital, Millersburg, for a number of years, before serving as Director of Radiology at Twin City Hospital in Dennison for two decades.
He loved animals and, along with his wife, cared for scores of dogs and cats while Rachel established the Tuscarawas County Humane Society. He never turned away an animal in need, even when his children brought rescues back from their homes in Texas, Massachusetts, and Virginia. He was active in his communities, serving as chairman of the United Fund Health Foundation Tuscarawas County, presented seminars on the treatment of substance abuse for the Tuscarawas County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, served as a District Commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America in Marion, Ohio, and volunteered as team doctor for the Dover Tornadoes Football team from 1974-1976, as well being active in the Tornado Club.
He was very involved with educating the public about the harmful effects on children from lead in drinking water, discussing the problem at public meetings and publishing numerous letters to the editor in The Times Reporter. He was an avid stamp collector and had an appreciation for Modern Art and Tuscarawas County memorabilia. He loved discussing historical subjects, particularly Zoar and the Amish and Mennonite communities. He was passionate about environmental issues and loved to observe wildlife, especially birds and deer, and planted thousands of trees to protect their habitat.

He is survived by his wife, Rachel; son, William (Annette) of Youngstown, Ohio; daughter, Aileen of West Hollywood, California; son, Andrew (Cristina) and his granddaughter Alexandra of Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Cremation has been entrusted to the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home and Crematory at Dover. His remains will be interred at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Those wishing to express their fondest memories of Irwin may do so by visiting the funeral home’s website.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Tuscarawas County Humane Society at 1432 Tall Timber Rd NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.