Obituary of Michael Theodore Silbert

Michael Theodore Silbert died on Friday, April 16, 2010 at his assisted living community, Emeritus, located in West Orange, NJ. He was 88. Born February 10th, 1922 in Warsaw, Poland, Michael was the only son of Ina and Stanislaw Silberstein. Although raised in Warsaw, due to World War II, Michael served in the Polish Armed Forces which was part of the British Armed Forces. In 1942, his formation was evacuated to Persia and transferred to the Western Allies, and went on to fight Nazi German forces in Italy, including at the Battle of Monte Cassino. At the end of the war, Michael reunited with his mother, Ina, in Italy before graduating from Polytechnic of Milan with a degree in textile engineering and later studied in Scotland. After immigrating to the United States, Michael married Vera Sylvia Gutman in 1953. Michael went on to launch several businesses including United Knitwear, Scotch Craft and Mont Blanc that were focused on manufacturing and selling garments, mainly sweaters, to customers as large as The United States Military, Macy's and Sears as well as many smaller clothing boutiques across the United States that relied on his sweaters for their initial growth. Michael was responsible for helping many earlier retailers and wholesalers build their business from the start; including The Limited and Uggs. Michael was an expert bridge player who achieved the distinction of Grand Life Master. Vera, who emigrated from Germany in 1939, passed away in April 1995 from cancer. He is survived by two sons, Ken Silbert of Warren, NJ (wife Carol and grandchildren Jordan and Hayley) and Jeff Silbert of Holmdel, NJ (wife Michelle and grandchildren Sarah and Grace). Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 19, 2010 at 11:00 am in the Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Boulevard, Watchung, NJ with Rabbi Randi Musnitsky officiating. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery located at 8315 Kew Gardens Road in Jamaica, NY. Memorial contributions can be made in Michael T. Silbert's memory to either the Make-A-Wish Foundation ( www.wish.org) or The Holocaust Museum ( www.ushmm.org). Shiva will be held on Monday (5pm to 9pm), Wednesday (1pm to 4pm) at Ken and Carol Silbert's residence, 26 Old Dutch Road, Warren, NJ and on Tuesday (1pm to 3pm, 5pm to 8pm) at Jeff and Michelle Silbert's residence, 10 Partridge Run, Holmdel, NJ.