Dr. Harold “Hal” Silberman
WORLD WAR II VETERAN, PHYSICIAN, COMMUNITY LEADER
At 101, Dr. Harold “Hal” Silberman is still keeping busy. One of South Florida’s oldest living World War II veterans, Silberman served as a communications and decoding officer aboard the USS Arkansas and is among the rare surviving veterans who served in both the Atlantic and Pacific. After the war, he completed his medical studies at Johns Hopkins with help from the GI Bill and moved to Miami in 1951, where he built a long career in medicine, including founding PrimeCare in Coral Gables and Clinical Research of South Florida.
Today, Silberman lives at The Palace in Coral Gables with his wife, Susan, where retirement looks more like a second career. He is editor of the Residents’ Gazette, chairman of the welcome committee, leads current events chats, and organizes medical lectures for residents. His days are filled with exercise, chess, table tennis, dancing, reading, writing, and welcoming new residents into the community.
“I GET A GREAT DEAL OF PLEASURE OUT OF READING, OUT OF WRITING, AND OUT OF LECTURES….”
THE LATEST
Silberman recently celebrated his 101st birthday and restarted his “Innovations in Medicine” lecture series at The Palace, a program he created to bring medical specialists directly to residents. The lectures focus on issues relevant to senior health, from dermatology to longevity, while connecting residents with Coral Gables physicians. He has also built relationships with the Coral Gables Senior Center, the University of Miami, and the HistoryMiami Museum to keep residents active and engaged. As chairman of the welcome committee, Silberman helps new residents settle into life at The Palace, introduces them to others, and encourages friendships – something he views as essential to good health.
WHAT HE SAYS
“I’ve always been interested in keeping busy, both physically and mentally,” Silberman says. “In spite of the Great Depression, where we had nothing, our parents encouraged us to learn. I get a great deal of pleasure out of reading, out of writing, and out of lectures.” On life at The Palace, Silberman says, “From day one, we loved it, and I can’t pick one day that I haven’t been happy. You eat correctly, you work out, you have people who are extremely alert and who communicate.” As for why he continues to welcome new residents and organize lectures, he says, “I’ve always wanted to help people. When people come in, I sit down with them and help them understand what they have to do to socialize, to establish relationships with people, because that’s very important.”– Yousra Benkirane