Obituary of Edward Ivan Silver

Edward Ivan Silver

Passed away peacefully on June 4, 2025, in Fort Erie, ON, at the age of 96.
Ed was born on March 27, 1929, in Niagara Falls, NY, the eldest of two sons to Max and
Anne (Zatulove). A few years later the family moved to St. Catharines where Ed was
raised and spent most of his life. He excelled academically at Memorial School and St.
Catharines Collegiate.
As a teenager, Ed attended Camp Arowhon in Algonquin Park, where he discovered his
passions for photography, canoeing and sailing — and where he met Evelyn (“Lynne”)
Margles. Both became counselors there, with Ed serving as a sailing instructor.
He went on to study business at the University of Western Ontario. While a student,
during the summer of 1950, Ed took on management of the family’s ladies’ fashion
store, The Model, on St. Paul Street, while his parents traveled to Europe then to the
newly established State of Israel. He graduated in 1951 with a degree in business
management.
Shortly after graduation he married Lynne, they returned to St. Catharines and Ed
worked alongside his father at The Model. He helped modernize operations and expand
the business and developed an interest in computing. In the early 1960s, he created a
revolving credit system that gave the store advantages normally seen only in larger
retail chains — well ahead of the consumer credit card era. After his father’s retirement,
Ed took over the business and later opened a second store in the city’s growing north
end.
Ed retired from The Model in 1980 and went on to teach math and finance at Niagara
College. He also applied his computing skills to help several Ontario golf clubs
streamline operations by creating and implementing SilverSoft Club Pro software.
Ed and Lynne raised four sons. He shared with them his passions for camping,
canoeing, sailing and woodworking. In his home workshop, he built everything from toys
and treehouses to furniture, intricate models, HO trains and slot cars, and made
abstract oil paintings. A skilled navigator, Ed and family spent happy summers aboard
his 37-foot yawl, Pintail, sailed the Great Lakes with Lynne on their Nonsuch Misty Cat,
and on charter sailboats in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Their spirit of adventure
led them to travel the world by sea and air — to 72 countries in Caribbean and South
Pacific islands, Europe, Africa, Australia, Central and South America, Far East, Mid-
East, Asia, Australia and the North Pole.

His volunteer contributions were many. A longtime member of Rotary International, Ed
computerized the local club’s annual radio auction fundraiser, among other efforts, and
was honoured as a Paul Harris Fellow. He also served as a curriculum developer with
the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron, taught navigation courses, was Commander of
the Port Dalhousie Squadron, and contributed to the management committee at
Dalhousie Yacht Club where he was recognized as a Life Member. In the day he also
served on the board of Congregation B’nai Israel, lobbied government for improved
treatment of people with schizophrenia and led the Downtown St. Catharines Merchants
Association.
In 2019, Ed and Lynne moved to the Royal Henley Retirement Community, near their
longtime home on Cairn Castle Gate. After Lynne’s passing in September 2024 Ed
relocated to The Willows in Fort Erie to be closer to his two younger sons. Throughout
this final chapter Ed’s characteristic courage, calm, and wisdom shone through —
especially in the gentle care he gave Lynne in her last months.
Ed was predeceased by his second son, Jonathan; by his brother, Gary; and by Lynne,
his beloved wife of 74 years. He is survived by sons Gregory (Dawn), Matthew (Mary),
and Daniel (Diana); and by his adored grandchildren: Hannah, Rebecca (Steven), Max,
Abigail (Dan), Emma, Jonathan, and Donovan.
A graveside funeral service was held on June 6 at Congregation B’nai Israel Cemetery.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. J and the staff at the Royal Henley, the staff at
The Willows, and to Dr. Scher and the team at Douglas Memorial Palliative Care for
their dedicated care and kindness.

To make a donation in Ed’s memory to Family Mental Health Support Network, please
visit:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/family-mental-health-support-network-of-
niagara/