Mark Silverstein

After UC, I went to work for Standard Textile Company and worked for them 24 great years. They moved me to Cleveland...still can't believe I'm here, go Browns, right! Started my own company in 1995.
You know work, it's something to keep you from doing what you really want to do, but you need the money.

When I was 30, I quit smoking and started running. That led to biking which led to swimming, which led to triathlons. Then I discovered rowing and sculling. So I started volunteering and found myself as the volunteer Executive Director of the Cleveland Rowing Foundation. A non-profit umbrella organization that over sees 800 rowers and eight rowing clubs. In that capacity I started Cleveland's first "Row for the Cure" in memory of a dear friend that passed away from Breast Cancer. Got involved with the visually impaired and started and ran a program for them for three years. Started and collaborated on two summer rowing programs for under served youth.

In the meantime got a chance to ride across the country on motorcycles with my son when he graduated law school for 15 days and 4,500 miles. Hiked to Machu Picchu, crossed the Grand Canyon from North Rim to South rim twice, once with Ving Jaffa. I have to tell you that story. Backpacked most National Parks, paddled in the Boundary Waters, and generally soaked up as much adventure and life as I can.

Got remarried and two years ago adopted a little boy from Vietnam, Orion Ngoc McGuinness Silverstein. He is incredible and keeps me in great shape. Fellow grandparents, yes I have two grandsons, you know what I mean but there is no rescue from your kids! Needless to say I had to back off from all of my volunteer work but have just recently jumped back in.

So I work a little, am assistant coach for Shaker High Girls Rowing Team, coach Yoga and the Art of Zen Rowing to adults, scull at least three times a week, and run when I'm not rowing. Did I mention Dragon Boat Racing? Well I coach that too!

3/13/2011 Well, the rowing season is about to start in earnest, tomorrow! I'm coaching Shaker High Girls Crew and really have the honor of coaching 24 very bright and driven young women. We have been training indoors since the first of the year and I am hopeful that we are going to have a great season. Lots of very talented and strong young women. Best volunteer job ever.

I'll also be coaching adults two nights a week, we start 3/21. As a Director of the Western Reserve Rowing Association I get to do some really cool things. My goal this year is to re-energize a visually impaired rowing program and at least start something for disabled vets.

I've been taking my little son, once a week to a great Vietnamese restaurant here in Cleveland, Superior Pho. The owner's son has agreed to start teaching Rion vietnamese once a week. Chicken soup is pho ga! More later.

Moved my business to downtown Cleveland. The building was built in 1910, 8 foot windows provide a skyline view of downtown Cleveland. Still has real elevator operators, wooden floors, and cool fellow tenants including lots of artists and photographers.

I joined the Cleveland State Recreation Center, just two blocks from my work. When I look at these college kids, I realize that they look so damn young. However every student treats me with great respect, they must think that I'm a professor. I'll take that!

More later, but I'm thinking of organizing an event in Cincinnati this summer. Maybe a Reds game followed by a Skyline party? I'll let you all know. Please be safe, take care of yourselves, get up and do something you haven't done before. You can't fail!

2/19/13 lunch with Mickey Braverman at Skyline in Cleveland. An almostinthly tradition since the class reunion.

School story....when I start thinking about Woodward I just get a warm feeling in my heart and soul. I've taken Ving, who I was able to reconnect with, on several outdoor adventure trips. What a blast!
He reminds me of the time we both worked at Liberal's Grocery store together and one Saturday night he snook up behind me and blasted me in the face with a pie. Weeks later I got my revenge in the school cafeteria.
I bought a great looking piece of Lemon Meringue pie and repaid him. I did it in a crowd and ran like hell. I denied it for years until I finally confessed.

When I think about some of the great teachers and characters we had, I think of Mrs. Nueberger, Mr. Duffy, Paul Hendricks, and the cute little teacher who taught us Queen Elizabeth 1558 - 1603. See that, I remember but not her name. Help me if you can. (Thank you Mark silverman, it was Miss Jenny Fine!)

I just checked out Mark Abrams, Rick Steineau, Rich Newhauser, and Dale Meyers pictures. I must say you four have broken my generalization. I still think that all men after 55 morph into looking like Steven Spielberg.