Louis Philip Silverman

He was born in Altoona to Rachel (Saul) and Isaac Silverman, the second of three sons. He lost a brother, S. Edwin, at the age of 4 to Lymphatic Leukemia; and brother, Dr. Joseph, at age 92 in 2025.

Lou attended Altoona public schools except for 1.5 years at Mercersburg Academy. He graduated from Altoona High School in 1953; Dickinson College in 1957, where he was a member of Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity and received the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award; and the University of Pennsylvania Law School after completing two years of military service as a 1st Lieutenant in Counter Intelligence. He was discharged as a Captain.

Lou was a talented athlete. He had extensive experience as an AZA intrastate basketball player, a high school ward league, city league and college baseball player. He pitched in the national tournament after his Sixth Ward team won the Ward League championship in Altoona.

He entered the practice of law with Goodman & Notopoulos, eventually becoming a partner with a special focus on labor law, usually representing employers but famous for his good relations with union members.

One of his lifelong interests was community development. He was vice president of the Downtown Altoona Redevelopment Effort (DARE) and Altoona Progressive Developers Association (APDI) in which his work included recruitment of business and industry to the downtown Altoona area. Such projects included design and construction of the Payne Webber building, Railroad Retirement Building and recruiting various businesses and industries for the 11th Avenue Marketplace.

Despite his father’s admonition, “Don’t go into the theater business!,” Lou did indeed pursue his father’s career, which Lou always loved and followed encyclopedically even as a young boy. His father, Isaac Silverman, a Warner Bros. field operative, had pioneered motion picture exhibition in Altoona. Lou, following in those footsteps, was associated with Hollidaysburg’s Blair Theatre until it closed, and the Miller Cinemas in Lewistown. He went on to administer a collection of theaters in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. He partnered with Edward Troll at Westmoreland Theatre services in Johnstown, John Nelson at Lehighton Entertainment, Lehighton, and with the Zurich associates and theatre services in upstate New York.

He married his lifelong business partner and friend, Veronica Ann Samborsky-Silverman, in 2008.

Lou had many friends. His brother described Lou as charismatic. If I met someone who was also a friend of Lou’s, first question asked was, “How’s your brother?”

His various community associations and memberships included as follows: He was a member of the Blair County Bar Association serving as president in 2012; board member, Blair County Civic Music Association and legal counsel; board member, Wolf Furniture Corporation; board member, Penn State Centre Stage; board member, National Association of Pennsylvania Theater Owners; and board member, Garvey Manor Nursing Home, and past vice president.

Other various community organizations included as follows: Jaffa Shrine; Scottish Rite, Valley of Altoona, 60-year member; Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees); Center for the Penn State Performing Arts; friend, Palmer Museum of Art.

He was also an honorary Penn State alumnus.

Louis provided financial support as a member of many Jewish congregations from Pennsylvania to California. He was also a lifelong supporter of the state of

Israel, which he visited multiple times, once as a student ambassador.

Louis has always been an advocate of the underdog, hence his undying loyalty for the often-beleaguered Brooklyn Dodgers. He was a gentle man, a free spirit, a good neighbor who hosted Christmas parties for the neighborhood in past years for all to stay connected and bring good cheer. He was dedicated to family, and a dear great-nephew bestowed his Eagle Scout “Mentor” pin to his Uncle Lou since “he was dedicated to family and a positive role model.”

Lou was a very generous man, donating to various charities but foremost to great-nieces and nephews’ college education; thus psychologists, business leaders, history enthusiasts, marketing specialists, veterinarians and engineers go forth in service.

He enjoyed travel to Europe, Netherlands, South America, Middle East, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, but he loved holidays in Boston with Betsy’s “infamous” family dinners; Chanukah with Ed and Rachel cavorting with nephews and nieces; then Palm Springs International Film Festival in January hosted by Rabbi and Lynda Ziont’s; and Chautauqua in the summers with the Wolfs and Beckers. Lou often hosted summer engagements with beloved cousins reminiscing about the “Good old days,” then off to New York with Steve Port, Lou’s dearest friend, and his wife Phyllis, and maybe along the way a stop at their Ventnor, New Jersey, condo with a 360-degree view of the glorious Atlantic.

And of course, Penn State football with family and the McMurrays and the Pitmans; Penn State basketball dinners with the Kaminskys; train rides and cruises with brother-in-law John and Eleanor; Thanksgiving with “Judy and the boys”; and trips with the Ashcrofts. Then there was the Centre for the Performing Arts Theatre; concerts, jazz, opera; Penn State Centre Stage performances; Paris with brother Joe and Pat; and, first and foremost, he was host and nurturer and mentor to nieces and nephews and cousins attending the Pennsylvania State University, thus fostering their educational journeys.

Although he traveled most of the world, Lou was a homebody as he loved reading his four to five newspapers per day, overlooking his flower gardens in summer and frozen landscape in winter; watching the CNBC stock reports; and of course, discussing international news, current events and sports. Best-kept secret? Great ballroom dancer!

He is survived by his wife, Veronica Samborsky of State College; sister-in-law, Patricia Silverman of Hollidaysburg; brother-in-law, John Samborsky of Pickerington, Ohio; sister-in-law, Julia Samborsky of Front Royal, Va.; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins from California, Virginia, Hawaii, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Illinois, Kansas and North Carolina.

The family extends special thanks to the staff of Juniper Village at Brookline in State College, for their outstanding care and loving support during Lou’s transitional life experience.

Friends will be received from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, April 6, 2026, at Temple Beth Israel, 3004 Union Ave., Altoona. A service will follow at 11 a.m. with Rabbi Audrey Korotkin officiating.

Interment will be at Mt. Sinai Cemetery, Altoona.

Arrangements are by E. Merrill Smith Funeral Home Inc., Altoona.

Memorial contributions can be made to Temple Beth Israel, 3004 Union Ave., Altoona, PA 16602.

Condolences may be made at www.stevens

familyfuneralhomes.com or Stevens Family Funeral Homes Facebook page.