Madeleine Beth Silverman
SILVERMAN: Madeleine Beth Silverman. Madi Silverman of Kailua, Oahu, passed away at home with family by her side on April 25, 2024, after battling metastatic melanoma since June 2023. Madi excelled at life. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother to her family, a loyal friend and great neighbor. She loved running the Honolulu marathon (with minimal training), played and coached soccer, paddled for Kailua and loved the outdoors and hiking. Everyone described Madi as brave, courageous and tough, but also uniquely full of life, optimistic and eternally happy. She uplifted all who knew her with her exuberance, thoughtfulness and love. Her passing is felt deeply by her family, many friends, workmates and colleagues throughout the islands. Madi was born in Pittsburgh to Dr. Mendel and Tamara Silverman and was the oldest of four children. She attended Taylor Allderdice High School and graduated from Duquesne University with a BS in Special Education in 1976. She served in the Peace Corps in Gabon, Central Africa, from 1976-78 before moving to Hawaii to obtain a master’s degree in public health at UH Manoa. Following graduation, she filled a variety of roles at several health clinics before accepting a state position at HHS in the Long-Term Care Branch. She was best known for her work as the project director of the Hawaii “Money Follows the Person/Going Home Plus” Program. She was responsible for over 700 successful transitions of people from institutions to the community allowing those desiring to age in place to do so with dignity. Madi will be sorely missed by her husband, Dale Jensen; children, Will (Tessa) and Samantha (Grey Saul); her four granddaughters, Bodhi, Pippa, Talia and Ophelia; her two sisters, Dr. Jan Silverman (Dave Rand) and Dr. Susie Smith (Scott); brother, Ron Silverman; her sister-in-law, Diane Jensen; her several nieces, nephews and her large community of friends in Kailua, across Oahu and the mainland. A memorial service for Madi will be held at Kalama Beach Club, Kailua, Hawaii, on Sunday, June 30. Donations can be directed to Institute for Human Services (ihshawaii.org/donate/), No Kid Hungry or Doctors Without Borders. PJC
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