Dr. Deborah Ann Silverman's Obituary
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In the morning hours of Saturday November 19, Dr. Deborah Ann Silverman, devoted wife, loving daughter, loyal friend, and amazing dog mom, passed quietly at the age of 32 after a courageous battle with breast cancer.
Growing up in Maui, Hawaii, Deborah was homeschooled before attending Seabury Hall, skipping a grade to graduate salutatorian at the age of 16. She then began her extensive academic career across the country at Drexel University, excelling through the undergraduate Biology honors program to graduate Summa Cum Laude. She worked and studied at Fox Chase Cancer Center and the National Institute of Health before attending medical school as a dual degree Md-PhD student at the UT Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center. A brilliant and diligent scholar, Deborah earned her PhD to become “Dr. Deb” in October 2022.
Inquisitive, ambitious, and naturally gifted, Deborah was an exceptionally accomplished student all her life. She had a profound love of learning, asking insightful questions that she was eager to answer with innovative experimentation. Deborah was a remarkable mentor and invaluable collaborator, acknowledged and respected by some of the most prolific and promising academic scientists in her field. Throughout her extensive schooling, Deborah received numerous awards, honors, and accolades, receiving grants from the Cullen foundation, a John J. Kopchick fellowship, and the renowned NIH F30 grant to explore groundbreaking research in T-cell cancer immunotherapy. She received several prestigious publications and a featured cover story in the high impact research journal, Nature. Despite the complexity of her research, Deborah always took the time and attention to explain her work in a way most could understand and appreciate. She loved nothing more than sharing her passion for science and passing that excitement on to others.
Deborah was truly an extraordinary mix of intelligence, skill, and creativity. She was an avid reader, an accomplished creative and technical writer, and a naturally gifted artist. She expressed her imaginative mind through acrylic and watercolor painting, drawing, and ukulele. Deborah was a master chef in the kitchen, making mouths water with her signature steak techniques and renowned rack of ribs. She was also gifted with a green thumb, somehow finding time in her hectic schedule to run a successful side business propagating exotic house plants. Deborah was always on the move and loved being outdoors hiking trails, kayaking the bayou, or simply enjoying the weather with her husband and beloved fur baby, Tedward.
In only 32 short years, Deborah achieved more than a lifetime of significant achievements and generously gifted others enough smiles and lively memories to last another lifetime over. Deborah had a vivacious untamed spirit that can never be matched. The perseverance and grace she’s shown in the face of impossible challenges and grueling setbacks speaks to her tenacious character and astounding strength, which will endure as a humbling inspiration to all left in her absence. She exuded such genuine warmth and a brilliance that cannot be dimmed. Her light will live on in the hearts, minds, and stories of all those lucky to have witnessed her time here. She will forever remain so fondly remembered, abundantly loved, and unbelievably missed.
Deborah is survived by her husband Joel Olshefski, parents Peggy and Fred Silverman, sister Jennifer Varley, brother Kerry Ellis, and loyal companion Teddy.
A funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon, on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at Covenant Baptist Church, 4949 Caroline St, Houston, TX. 77004. Doors open to pay respects at 11:00 a.m. The ceremony will be live streamed for those unable to attend in person. A small reception will follow to share stories and celebrate Deborah’s beautiful life.
Deborah wanted her send-off to be a joyous reflection of her life, full of warmth, love, laughter, and fond memories. Per her wishes, she is to be cremated and scattered among the mountains of Colorado which she admired so dearly.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to give.moffitt.org, and specify the fund being donated to is Dr. Deborah Silverman Fund for Triple Negative Breast Cancer.
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