It has come to our attention that we are rapidly losing members of our community, friends and supporters of ACB. In order to honor these people whose lives have impacted us, in large and small ways, we are publishing this column. See below for the format in which to submit information.
Obituary Format
When submitting material for this column, please include as much of the following information as possible. Submissions must involve dates no more than six months from intended date of publication.
Name (first, last, maiden if appropriate)
City of residence (upon passing)
State/province of residence (upon passing)
Other cities/states/countries of residence (places where other blind people may have known this person)
Occupation
Date of death (day if known, month, year)
Silfen, Sophie
Reprinted from "The Washington Post," Jan. 28, 2011.
Sophie Silfen, 97, who served 23 years in the U.S. Women's Army Corps and retired in 1966 at the rank of master sergeant, died Dec. 26 at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington in Rockville of complications from heart disease.
Sgt. Silfen enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps during World War II. After the war, her assignments included Japan, Germany, the Pentagon and the White House. In the last, she was a secretary to Maj. Gen. Howard McCrum Snyder, President Dwight D. Eisenhower's physician and medical adviser.
After her retirement, Sgt. Silfen volunteered for Adas Israel Congregation, a conservative synagogue in the District. There, she worked in the nursery school, at the front desk and on several committees devoted to visiting the sick at Washington Hospital Center.
Sgt. Silfen was a certified braille transcriber and volunteered at the Library of Congress for nearly 40 years. Sophie Silfen was a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., and was a secretary before joining the military. Survivors include one sister.
-- Megan Buerger
Age
ACB affiliation (local/state/special-interest affiliates or national committees)