Syd Silverman, who for three decades owned the show-business bible Variety, passed away August 27 in Boca Raton, Florida, at the age of 85. Born on January 23, 1932, in Manhattan, he was raised in suburban Harrison, New York, later graduating from the Manlius School, a military academy in central New York. He was all of 18 years old when he inherited Variety in 1950, following his father’s death. Upon his subsequent graduation from Princeton University and after service in the Army, Silverman succeeded his legal guardian, Harold Erichs, as Variety’s publisher.
After selling Variety in 1987, Silverman (above, J.R. Schabowski photo) turned his attention to his life-long love of cars and bought Vintage Motorsport magazine, which his son Michael continues to publish.
Mr. Silverman is survived by his second wife, Dr. Joan Hoffman; his four children, Michael, Marie, Mark and Matthew, from his first marriage, and eight grandchildren. To all of them and to his many friends in both the publishing and racing industries, Vintage Racecar extends its sincerest sympathies.
