Lasting Memories

Matthew John Silverman
Oct. 16, 1983-June 10, 2024
Mountain View, United States
Submitted by Anna R Silverman

Matthew John Silverman passed away on June 10th after a 3 year battle with intestinal cancer at the age of 40. Matt was born on October 16, 1983, the first child of Anna and Joel Silverman. Matthew was raised in Mountain View, attending public schools at Bubb, Graham, and Mt. View High School. He was an exceptional student, excelling in Math and Science, and according to all of his teachers, joy to have in class. As a freshman in high school he received the shocking diagnosis of stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Matt underwent a year of chemotherapy while still attending classes, not willing to give up any of his Honors or AP classes, and continuing in Marching Band. He was completely cured, and went on to study at UCLA, achieving his BS, MS, and Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, again preforming in Marching Band. During these years he heard a calling to do more with his life, and joined a missionary group leading missions to Haiti, teaching the orphans there, and helping poverty stricken adults learn skills to support themselves and their families. Returning to the Bay Area, he was hired at SFSU teaching Clinical Laboratory Science in the Medical Diagnostics graduate program, helping to train hundreds of graduates who now work in hospitals all over the state. He had devoted his life to Christ, and became the youth pastor at our church, drawing in scores of teens, young people, and whole families, and they all loved him as well. It was during this time that he started to visit a young lady, Lara, from our church who had been suffering from an illness, and they fell in love. His diagnosis of Intestinal Cancer only drew them closer together, and they were married in March of 2023. Matt always believed that he would beat this cancer as well, and fought with all his might, but the cancer proved to be stronger than any treatment that could be found. He is survived by his parents Anna and Joel Silverman, brother Jeff, and sister Lauren/Simon Margolis, nieces Addison and Emma, and adoring wife Lara. A memorial will be held for him on July 13th at the Calvary Armenian Congregational Church in SF. His wish is to continue to serve by donations going to: The Calvary Armenian Congregational Church in San Francisco, and his two missionary groups, Impactful Missions & Hope Beyond Borders. “Let us be found faithful, so on that Day we will hear these words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ ”