Phyllis Riddle Silverstein

In Hartford, November 28, 2003, Phyllis Riddle Silverstein of Avery Heights, Hartford, formerly of North Haven, wife of the late Leo (Bud) Silverstein, Jr. died peacefully, surrounded by her children, after a brief illness. This kind and beautiful woman leaves behind a devoted family of children, grandchildren and friends. She was born Phyllis Joan Riddle, March 11, 1923, in Valparaiso, Indiana, the daughter of the late Robert and Elizabeth Budd Riddle. She grew up in South Bend, Indiana, attended Indiana University, and left to join the homefront war effort. She married Bud Silverstein of New York City on December 20, 1944. After Bud's service in the Navy, the couple moved to Connecticut. The family, which came to include four children, resided in North Haven, Middletown, and Glastonbury before settling again in North Haven in 1957. Phyllis devoted her life to the raising of the children and her home was a magnet for their friends. She also worked as a part-time secretary at the Church of the Redeemer in New Haven and enjoyed numerous volunteer and outdoor activities. Following Bud's death in 1976, Phyllis worked briefly as a travel agent and then began a 10-year career as managing secretary to the Friends of the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale. She also enjoyed a long relationship with Dr. Alex Herbordt of Woodbridge, with whom she shared a love of travel and music, especially opera. In March of 2000, she sold her home in North Haven and moved to Avery Heights, Hartford, where she made many new and devoted friends and renewed her love of bridge and other activities. She leaves a loving legacy through her four children, Susan Tanguay of Durham, NH; Sally Taylor of Hartford, CT; Jill Silverstein of Philadelphia, PA; and James Moisson of Groton, MA; her daughter-in-law Maureen Moisson and sons-in-law William Tanguay and Allan Taylor; her seven grandchildren, Sarah, David, and Kate Tanguay; Rachel and Karen Taylor; and Lucas and Jeremy Moisson; and her mother-in-law, Edith Silverstein of Deerfield Beach, FL. Phyllis was predeceased by her first child Jane, her brothers James and David Riddle, and her friend Alex Herbordt. A memorial service will be held at Immanuel Congregational Church, corner of Farmington Avenue and Woodland Streets in Hartford (opposite the Mark Twain House) on Saturday, December 6, at 10:30 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Nature Conservancy, CT Chapter, 55 High Street, Middletown CT 06457; or the Avery Heights Auxiliary, 705 New Britain Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. Arrangements are in care of Beecher & Bennett, 2300 Whitney Avenue, Hamden CT. For information or to send a condolence visit: www.beecherandbennett.com