Obituary of Cornelius Silber

SILBER, Cornelius Anderson C.A. (Andy) Silber died of liver disease at Toronto Grace Health Centre on August 19, 2013. He was born on October 14, 1939 in Albany, New York to Gordon Rutledge and Barbara Coney Silber, and grew up in Schenectady. Highlights of his youth included summers spent at Grand Manan, New Brunswick, outdoor education at Camp Pocono, Pennsylvania, a year in Paris, France, and two years at the Loomis School in South Windsor, Connecticut. After graduating from Princeton University in 1961, Andy taught for two years at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. He moved to Toronto for graduate studies in English and American literature at the University of Toronto, completing his MA and PhD. He was one of the first residents of Massey College, and joined the faculty as a lecturer while in his doctoral years, becoming assistant professor in 1974. He retired as associate professor in 2005. Through the years, Andy developed a passion for ballet, which he shared with his partner, the late Rea Wilmshurst. The two attended countless performances and donated time and financial support to a number of arts organizations, noteably Ballet Jorgen Canada. In recent years, Andy was often seen in the company of his ballet companions and dear friends, members of the Zufelt and Spiess families, as well as the Spoerel family from Ottawa. He was also devoted to friends at Grand Manan, valuing his acceptance as a third-generation person 'from away.' Andy is survived by his sister Cristina (Tina) Silber, his cousins in the D'Arms family and a large 'ensemble' of colleagues, dancers, musicians, former students and friends. He will be remembered for his cheerfulness, poetry, conversation, love of learning, generosity and sense of humour. Special thanks are due to the staff at the Liver Clinic and the Toronto Central Community Care Access Cenre (CCAC), who monitored his declining health and sustained him through his illness. Most recently, thanks are due to his personal support workers with Eldercare Home Health Inc. as well as the staff at Toronto Grace Health Centre who took care of Andy during the last weeks of his life. There will be a memorial gathering in celebration of Andy's life in the Chapel of VICTORIA COLLEGE, 140 Charles Street West on Saturday, October 26 beginning at 2:00 p.m. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Swallowtail Keepers Society at Grand Manan, New Brunswick, the Liver Clinic at Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Grace Health Centre or a dance company of your choice. Condolences and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com.