TRIBUTES
MY DAUGHTER, EMILY
RACHEL SILVERSTEIN If
I had to pick three words to describe my daughter, Emily Rachel Silverstein, I
would say COMPASSIONATE, PASSIONATE and CREATIVE.
I am so proud and honored to have shared 19 years with such an extraordinary
human being. She gave so much to her family,
her friends and the world. She was so much
more than anyone could ever hope for in a human being, from a daughter and a friend. Emily’s
worldview was formed at a very early age. We
found an essay she had written 10 years ago where she had to choose three words
to describe herself. She shared that she
was a Vegetarian, Peaceful and a Hardworker. She had a strong sense of what the world could
and should be like and she wanted to do everything she could to make the world
a little bit more like that ideal she felt in her heart. Although her music tastes,
and hair color changed many times in the ten years since then, she truly lived
her life by these compassionate principles that were her very essence. Emily
Rachel Silverstein’s compassion, passion and creativity have touched so many lives. She accomplished so many amazing things. But there was so much more that she wanted to
do to make this world a better place. There
are so many more lives that she would have touched, inspired and empowered to
join in the struggle for a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. When
well-meaning people try to comfort me by saying that there is a reason for everything
that will become clear some day, I must admit that I feel sad and angry. There can NEVER be a reason that would justify
the loss of such a remarkable person. NEVER. In
fact, my first reaction when we found out about our daughter,
was how can I possibly go on when such an important part of my life has been taken
away from us. How can I ever have hope
again. Of
course I knew the answer. My son Jamey
is as compassionate and caring as his sister.
He is also an extraordinary human being.
He has also made this world a better place and there are so many more amazing
things that he will accomplish. I need
to be strong for him. And
my wife, Linda. Emily’s loss is
felt by so many. But none can know the
depth of that loss that Linda is experiencing.
Emily has always been her best friend.
They shared everything. Emily gave
so much to the world, and I know in my heart that Linda gave Emily the greatest
gift Emily ever received. The relationship
that they had is truly extraordinary, and Emily was blessed to have had such a
bond that few will ever experience. I know that Linda will find comfort in the
eternal beauty of that relationship. And I need to be strong for Linda, because her
compassionate worldview has empowered her to touch so many lives, and she has
so much compassion left to share, so I need to be strong, to try to help her to
be able to not let this tragic loss prevent her from continuing to live her life
of compassion to its fullest potential. Now,
for Emily, I am re-dedicating my life to that vision of a better world that my
daughter and my son and my wife and I share. And
I am dedicating my life to continue the legacy of my daughter’s passion and compassion.
The world WILL KNOW her name. The
world will be inspired and empowered by her wish for a better world.
Her love has touched so many lives, and my life will be dedicated to making
sure that her compassion will continue to embrace the world she cared so much
about. We have set up the Emily Silverstein
Fund (EmilyFund.org) to continue Emily's legacy of hope in action for a better
world. Emily’s beautiful legacy will live forever. Thank
you all for the love and kindness you have shared with our family in this time
of sorrow and through all the years of joy. And
thank you for being a part of my wonderful daughter’s life.
I hope that her life will inspire all of you to have hope for a better
world and to know that every act of compassion makes a difference.
Robert
Alan Silverstein
(Emily's Dad)
At the 4/13/09 Memorial Service at Roosevelt
Public School Thanks
to Anukul Gurung for the fairy image of Emily
Thanks to Fletcher Grayson/Gray
Media for creating The Emily Fund logo | 
