Morris "Marty" Silverman

1912-2006

The man who founded one of the largest prizes
in medicine in the nation 

Marty Silverman’s spirit of unselfishness and tremendous pride in Albany Medical Center and the Capital Region remains very much alive in the Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research. As the founder one of the largest prizes in medicine in the United States - at one time second worldwide to the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine - Marty made sure the prize would survive the test of time. His $50 million gift commitment made in November 2000 remains the largest in the history of Albany Med.

Perhaps due to his humble upbringing in Troy, NY, Marty had to be persuaded to abandon his desire for anonymity as the benefactor of the Albany Prize. His goal in creating such a prize was to help focus attention on both Albany Medical Center and the city of Albany as a national and international hub of excellence in the health care industry.

A graduate of Albany Law School, he moved to New York City with his wife, Dorothy, where the couple pioneered the leasing industry. In 1950, he founded his first leasing company, National Equipment Rental, which later became the North American Corporation. In 1984, Marty sold what had evolved into the largest privately owned leasing company in the United States. After his wife passed away in 1985, Marty retired and created the Marty and Dorothy Silverman Foundation. Throughout the years, the foundation has provided support for numerous programs that benefit abused and neglected children, indigent senior citizens, as well as educational and cultural programs.

In celebrating the legacy of Marty Silverman, we are inspired by his infectious optimism and joie de vivre. In awarding the Albany Prize, we pay tribute to this remarkable and generous man whose commitment to advancing biomedical research and supporting humanitarian efforts will forever be remembered.