Friday, July 30th, 2010

Joanne Lavine Silverstein, Ph.D., 58, of Fayetteville and Erieville, New York, died Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at home after a long illness. She earned her Ph.D. in Information Transfer from the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University, and was an assistant research professor at the iSchool and the director of research and development for the Information Institute. She was also an alumna of the M.S. in Information Management program and the Ph.D. in Information Science and Technology. A dedicated teacher, well-known researcher, and cherished colleague, Joanne stepped down from active duties in August 2007 to, in her words, “make time for the simpler pleasures in life and give [her] body and mind the time that it needs to heal from a chronic illness.”

Joanne was a lifelong member of Temple Society of Concord, and served for several years as the Chair of the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) for the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation. Joanne is survived by Paul, her husband of 35 years; sister, Laura Lavine (Donald Fitzgerald); brother, Gary Lavine (Mady Kudisch); brother-in-law, Elliot (Carol) Silverstein; several aunts, an uncle and many cousins. She is also survived by three nephews of whom she was extremely proud, Drew Lavine (Syracuse), Scott Silverstein (Atlanta), and Alan Silverstein (Manhattan). A funeral service was conducted at Temple Society of Concord, 910 Madison Street in Syracuse, at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 30, 2010. Burial was in the Temple Society of Concord section of Woodlawn Cemetery.

Donations may be made to the Temple Society of Concord Building Fund, 910 Madison Street, Syracuse, NY 13210; the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation, PO Box 192, Fayetteville, NY 13066, online at https://www.MatildaJoslynGage.org/support-our-mission/donate (please note Joanne’s name in the designated area of the online Gage donation form); or CALGB at http://www.calgb.org/Public/foundation/foundation.php

—Birnbaum Funeral Service Inc. and Margaret Spillett, iSchool Communications Manager

Remembrances

She was a walking oxymoron. As Joanne towered over me the first time I met her at a tea honoring Antje Lemke, one of Joanne’s mentors, I was intimidated by her height and the power of her presence.  And I was equally drawn by the warmth of her smile and the openness and liveliness of her demeanor.  Joanne Silverstein was not a person one would forget; she was memorable to the core of her being.  I knew from that moment that I wanted to work with her.  I asked her if she would chair our Local Advisory Committee.

She became a mentor to me in many ways, as I watched the way she skillfully drew together a committee of dedicated workers.  She modeled the perfect meeting.  With a well-organized agenda, she made sure that the business got attended to, but that the meeting was limited to the business at hand.   Her meetings always were limited to an hour. I marveled at what kind of formal training and extensive experience gave her these skills.  ”How did you learn to do this?” I asked in wonder.  “I don’t know, I’ve never been chair of a committee before,” Joanne responded, “never wanted to.”

I admired her directness, her cut-to-the-chase slicing through trivia to get to the heart, the essence of a matter.  She brought a natural grace to every encounter, a penetrating interest in what you were up to, a swift dive to deeper levels of meaning.  Without ever intending to (and I’m sure, completely unconscious of it) Joanne brought everyone around her to a place of greater depth with her, and with themselves.  Formidable.  Imposing.  When someone is that connected to the deeper truth in a shallower and less honest world, they, the Joannes of the world, hold us to our best selves.  I am honored that I was her friend.

Several years ago we worked together on a grant proposal to digitize all of Gage’s letters, and make them accessible to the world.  Joanne’s vision went deeper, to a Talmud-inspired database that would virtually bring together Gage scholars to comment on, and contextualize, Gage’s writings.  We came close to receiving the grant, but didn’t. And then Joanne went on leave.

In the last few months, we revisited the digitizing project, and Joanne’s vision had broadened, to include all of Gage’s writings, in letters and also speeches, newspaper and magazine articles: all of her published and unpublished writing.  Also photos, memorabilia — every aspect of Gage’s life and work digitized and available  — with scholar comments —  in an interactive way so that a fourth-grader working on a History Day project who came across a piece of information that explained a reference in a letter could add it to the accumulating knowledge base.   And here I imagine Joanne’s voice correcting me:  “not ‘came,’ as though it might not come to pass.  This digitizing project will be a reality, and that student will come across that information and will add it to the database.”  I stand corrected.  We will do this project, guided by the vision of Joanne.  It will be a living memorial to her that will enrich the world for years to come.

Thank you, Joanne, for being in our lives and staying in our hearts and minds.

— Sally Roesch Wagner, Executive Director, Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation

“I am deeply saddened by the news of Joanne’s passing. She was an outstanding woman.  She will be deeply missed by everyone associated with the Gage Foundation who knew her and especially by those who had the good fortune to work with her…  I would like to create a “memorial fund” for Joanne to the Gage Foundation capital campaign and make the first donation so that we can place Joanne’s name on a wall at the Gage Center.” — Loretta A. Zolkowski

“She was such a wonderful woman — so warm, friendly, enthusiastic, and with such a sharp mind that she used to make the world a better place.  I’ll never forget meeting her at a tea in the Gage Home honoring Antje Lemke.  Once Joanne learned about Matilda, she threw herself into the work of teaching others about Gage. We will miss her very much, but she’ll serve as an inspiration to keep on reaching for the goals of the Gage Center-freedom and equality for all people.” — Sue Boland

It’s hard to lose good friends and good people. They’re so needed here among us.  But farewell to Joanne, and big thanks for all her wonderful work while she was here!  Say hello to Matilda for us, Joanne. Thanks in large measure to your enthusiastic support, the work she began — and that we all believe can help bring that future of cooperation that Matilda envisioned — is taking deep root in our time and the future. — Mimi Kennedy (who sent us this message from Paris, where she’s  shooting a Woody Allen film)

“Joanne was the Chair of the LAC when I first became a member.  She was deeply committed to the Gage Foundation and her role within it.  I have missed her insights and leadership in recent years but will always remember her smile and sense of humor.” — David Kellogg

“She was a truly wonderful woman, with a sincere heart.  Joanne worked very hard as President of the LAC, and had wonderful ideas and a true belief in Gage.” — Barb Evans

“It was my privilege to work with Joanne when she chaired the advisory group.  I will always picture Joanne as that very vibrant, warm,friendly, supportive, and highly effective leader as chair of that committee.  I know she will be greatly missed.” — Carl Borning

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To join Loretta Zolkowski in a memorial fund in Joanne’s name, please note Joanne’s name in the designated area of the donation form found at https://www.matildajoslyngage.org/support-our-mission/donate/

You can leave a remembrance on the Gage Foundation site in the lower part of the page marked Leave a Reply, and then click the Submit Comment button.

You can also leave a remembrance or photo at her iSchool tribute, where you’ll find other photos: http://ischool.syr.edu/remembrance/joannesilverstein/default.aspx

To see the Post Standard obituary, July 28, 2010, go to
http://obits.syracuse.com/obituaries/syracuse/obituary.aspx?n=joanne-silverstein-lavine&pid=144339855&fhid=10084