Joan Silbersher, a local institution, dies at 95

The beloved Pound Ridge resident’s ‘true love’ was her community

Joan Silbersher is perhaps best known for the quirky shop she ran at 65 Westchester Ave., in the hamlet’s center, Antiques & Tools of Business & Kitchen. Contributed Photo

By THANE GRAUEL

Whether you knew her or not, Joan Silbersher made an indelible mark on Scotts Corners. The single mother of two during her remarkable life was a tennis pro, newspaper and local phone directory publisher, and an active member of the community who helped shape its look and character.

A Pound Ridge resident since 1959, Silbersher died recently in North Salem at 95. A community gathering to remember her will be held in the spring.

Her daughter, Ricky Silbersher, said her mother was responsible for many landmarks and traditions in the hamlet, including the town clock, the town fountain, lamppost streetlights, the Halloween Walk, the Farmers Market, Sidewalk Sales, July 4th Markets, Kids Chess Sundays, and Sunday Antiques Markets and Labor Day Markets.

“She was a fierce and unique individualist who blazed, voiced, inspired, invented, demanded, gave, and charmed,” Ricky Silbersher wrote. “Her one true love was her community. People miss Joan’s presence dearly, but her spirit is alive, the stories flow, and her gifts are everywhere.”

She was born Joan Carol Piken on Oct. 19, 1929, in South Orange, N.J., to Burnett and Marguerite (Kirschbaum) Piken. Silbersher excelled at tennis and was named the New Jersey State Ladies Champion. The ultimate crown, her daughter said, was qualifying for the U.S. Open at Forest Hills, where one of her most valued experiences was being asked by Althea Gibson to partner in doubles.

Ricky Silbersher wrote a long remembrance of her mother, distributing it to those who know her, and posting it on Facebook, at facebook.com/erica.silbersher.

“Joan relentlessly pursued, fundraised, donated, supported, and fought for causes where she felt she could affect the most good,” her daughter wrote. “She was a longtime spearhead in multiple town organizations such as the Pound Ridge Business Association (where her dear alliance developed with mother-to-all, Agnes McMurray, of the gift shop the Strap Hinge, where BreadsNBakes kitchen is now); the Pound Ridge Democratic Committee (coaxing John F. Kennedy’s speechwriter and town local, Ted Sorensen, to share an unforgettable speech at her backyard fundraiser).

“She campaigned for the League of Women Voters, worked the polls, collected for the United Way, and lobbied for a Montessori School. She introduced a paddle tennis facility to the Town Park, ran its first program and taught lessons wherever needed. She created a junior bowling league that had buses going to the Armonk Bowl. She campaigned for Democratic candidates near and far, and wrote to the papers or stood up in meetings when a little extra passion for a project was needed.”

Joan Silbersher is perhaps best known for the quirky shop she ran at 65 Westchester Ave., in the hamlet’s center, Antiques & Tools of Business & Kitchen. For years people would come in to browse the curious, including a long list of local celebrities. 

Previously, she had founded a local newspaper, The Country Shopper. It launched in 1975 with one page, and at its peak was 100 pages. After 15 years, Joan and Ricky decided to move on from the newspaper. Joan opened her shop and Ricky revived the Little Book of Numbers, a local phonebook.

Ann Gastrich said she was glad to have Joan Silbersher as a neighbor.

“My husband and I were talking and he said, ‘Oh, she was a character,’ and I said ‘no, she was an institution. She was unique.’ She really was unique and it was nice to have her as a neighbor,” said Gastrich.

John Bria knew Silbersher for six decades through many channels, including the tennis club and the town board. 

“Many people remembered her in all different ways,” he said. “She was remarkable, but I’m going to choose to remember her as a magnificent athlete. She was lean, fast, moved across the tennis court with grace and she hit winners from everywhere.”

John (aka John Boy) Ubaldo, a farmer, knew her for a half-century.

“She did not stop at all,” he said. “She was an amazing woman, and would do whatever she could for everybody.”

He recalled her reaction when Pound Ridge shut down his farm stand. 

“She was so furious with the town that she let me set up in the front of her shop,” Ubaldo said.

“She was a fierce and unique individualist who blazed, voiced, inspired, invented, demanded, gave, and charmed,” Ricky Silbersher wrote. “Her one true love was her community. People miss Joan’s presence dearly, but her spirit is alive, the stories flow, and her gifts are everywhere.”