Obituary: David Silver defended 'Hollywood Ten' Obituary: David Silver defended 'Hollywood Ten' (June 30, 2004)

David Arnold Silver of Menlo Park, who was part of the defense team for the "Hollywood Ten" writers and directors when they appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee more than 50 years ago, died June 15 at Stanford Memorial Hospital. He was 87.

Mr. Silver was also one of the first special agents hired by J. Edgar Hoover and served in the FBI from 1940 to 1945.

Mr. Silver was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and went to the University of Oregon on a basketball scholarship. He graduated from Oregon's law school in 1940.

After the war Mr. Silver left the FBI and worked with Bartley Crum, a San Francisco attorney who was on the defense team representing the "Hollywood Ten," including famous film directors and writers, such as Dalton Trumbo, Ring Lardner Jr. and Larry Parks, when they were subpoenaed by Congress to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

From 1952 to 1963, Mr. Silver was chief counsel of the San Francisco Legal Aid Society, providing legal services for the poor. When he returned to private practice, he specialized in estate planning, real estate and business law.

During the civil rights movement, he was asked to serve as a mediator between Menlo Park's business and African-American communities and arranged an agreement to provide summer employment for African-American youth.

He was one of the founders of Opportunities Industrialization Center West (OICW); a president of the Boys Club; a director of the California Rural Legal Assistance League; a fundraising chairman of the Jewish Welfare Federation; and a director of many Jewish charitable organizations.

He taught a class in ancient Jewish history for adults at Temple Beth-Am in Los Altos and a course in ethics for high school students.

Mr. Silver's hobbies included cartooning, ancient history and golf. He was one of the charter members of the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Winifred Silver of Menlo Park; daughters Barbara Monie of Paris and Dale Silver of San Francisco; brother Arnold B. Silver of Portland, Oregon; and two grandchildren.

The family prefers donations to Congregation Shaarie Torah, 920 N.W. 25th Ave., Portland, Oregon 97210; or The Duck Athletic Fund, c/o Mike Marlow, 2727 Leo Harris Parkway, Eugene, Oregon 97401; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

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