Retired director of the Milwaukee County Department of Public Welfare Arthur Silverman died Oct. 21. A resident of Glendale, he was 91.
A Milwaukee native, he began a career of county service after graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1932. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and later earned a master’s degree in social work.
He worked for the Department of Public Assistance from 1934-39, Children’s Court from 1939-49, and the county welfare department, now called the Department of Social Services, from 1949 until he retired in 1981. He served as deputy director of the agency from 1963-70 and director until his retirement.
Throughout his career, he was an active member of various professional organizations including United Way; American Public Welfare Association; Structured Community Services for the Retarded; Project “Upward Bound”; “The Bridge,” a halfway house for parolees from reformatories; the National Association of Counties; and the American Academy of Human Services.
In addition, he had been president of the Youth Workers Conference and the National Association of Social Workers- Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter, served on the personnel council for Milwaukee County, and was a field instruction specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
In 1991, he wrote the book, “Only Blame Adam: Presenting No-Fault Psychology.”
In his retirement he enjoyed reading at the North Shore Library, playing piano, spending time with family and friends, and watching Wisconsin Badgers’ and Green Bay Packers’ football.
He is survived by daughter Julie Zolot Brenneman of Whitefish Bay and three grandchildren. His wife Nancy (nee Lev) died in 1989.
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