While serving as assistant dean and acting dean of Morgan State's graduate school during the 1970s, legendary football coach Earl Banks asked him to assemble a lacrosse team.
Dr. Silverman, who coached the team from 1970 to 1975, led the "Ten Bears," as the team was called, to a stunning victory, during his last year as coach, over top-ranked Washington and Lee.
His fifth book, Ten Bears, co-written with Dr. Miles Harrison, a Baltimore surgeon, is about the Morgan lacrosse team.
The book was recently optioned to Warner Brothers and, on April 4, PBS is scheduled to show a documentary about the team.
"Chip would do anything for you and had the uncanny ability to reach any age group and get the best out of them," Dr. Harrison said.
In 1991, he was inducted into the Morgan State University Hall of Fame.
During the past 30 years, Dr. Silverman wrote for the old News-American and was a contributing editor for Baltimore Magazine.
"He was a true `Baltimore Guy' and that is probably one reason he never left town," said Stan Heuisler, a former editor of Baltimore Magazine.
In addition to Diner Guys and Ten Bears, Dr. Silverman wrote six other books. He appeared in the TV show Homicide and the movies ... And Justice For All, Diner, Tin Men and Liberty Heights.
He relished his role in organizing reunions, "Diner Sports Camps," and dinners at Sabatino's, where everyone swapped memories with the "Diner Guys."
"Chip was the hubcap on the wheel of our memories. He can't be replaced. How are we going to get along without him?" said Richard Sher, a WJZ-TV reporter and longtime friend, yesterday.
"He was our catalyst. He held us together," Mr. Sher said. "He was the guy."
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Sol Levinson & Bros, 8900 Reisterstown Road.
Also surviving are a daughter, Debra L. Kroll of Palm Beach, Fla.; his companion, Gail Wolven; another sister, Nancy Kligerman of Beverly Hills, Calif.; and three grandsons. At his death, he was separated from his wife of six years, the former Renee Collins. An earlier marriage to the former Lynne Parr ended in divorce.
jacques.kelly@baltsun.com
fred.rasmussen@baltsun.com
