Silbiger Was His Very Polite and Political Self in Today’s Farewell

Here, though, is where the mirror reflecting his prosaic prose hovers into view.

Several of Mr. Silbiger’s personally tailored traits were in evidence this afternoon, as they have been throughout his 5 years on the City Council.

External vs. Internal

Undefeated, uncontested as the most passionately convinced liberal on the City Council, Mr. Silbiger’s passion virtually never manifests itself openly or emotionally.

His was truly a traditional businessman’s lunch kind of oration, down to the dry martini, accent on the adjective rather than the noun.

Mr. Silbiger’s closely scripted speech, before 230 guests at the Vets Auditorium, was so dry 2 rain gear salesmen reportedly went broke during his 25 minutes at the podium.

Flat as a Prairie

Oratorically speaking, a sense of humor and a casual, hair-down connection with the perfectly silent crowd must have been prisoners of war. They were nowhere to be found.

Hereafter, he may be known as Gary of Arc because of the overarching comprehensiveness of his subject matter.

Greensleeves?

He must have mentioned 300 separate subjects, covering everything except Founding Father Harry Culver’s sleeve length.

The only rhetorical point that may have eluded the mayor was that his mother, proudly seated near the stage, and Culver City were born in the same year.

His touchstones may have listed toward the rosy side.

But, like their master, his words were never too high, never too low.

Laudatory Traits

Known universally to his friends as an authentically nice and low-key gentleman who abhors the notion of speaking illy of anyone, Mr. Silbiger trod that worn but comfortable path at the Vets.

Describing himself as a student of political science and history, the mayor’s favorite touchstone subjects turned up in largely writ letters in his talk:

Supporting public education,

Aggressively advocating ever-widening residential participation on commissions and other volunteer groups at City Hall.

With loving tenderness, Mr. Silbiger introduced his family, including his mother Alice Silbiger, who soon will turn 90 years old.

He said that his wife, Barbara Honig, a 2-term veteran of the School Board, “taught me that one elected official can make a great deal of difference in life.”

His Son, the Harvard Man

His son Karlo, visiting for a week from Boston where he teaches, will receive his master’s from Harvard in June.

His daughter Tanya, a collegian on the East Coast, was unable to attend.

Medium warm throughout a risk-averse talk, Mr. Silbiger said that “the state of our city is strong.”

Near the end, he emulated a rocking-chair philosopher.

Philosophizing

After hailing Culver City for courageously taking long strides culturally and developmentally in recent years, he turned sagacious.

“While we have come a long way,” he said, “our journey is continuous.”

City Manager Jerry Fulwood excelled, as is his custom, as master of ceremonies for the Chamber of Commerce-organized program.

The Finest Gesture

Perhaps the sweetest touch of the afternoon was nominating the venerable community activist Efrem Violin to sit with dignitaries at the head table, on the Auditorium stage, and to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

An elder statesman of Culver City, he turns 80 years old in 57 days.

Two of Mr. Violin’s most treasured friends are a microphone and an audience.

With the seamless deftness of a show biz veteran, Mr. Violin rapidly and charmingly expanded his role near the top of the program.

Subjects for Sale?

Establishing the tone for Mr. Silbiger’s keynote address, Mr. Violin covered almost as many topics as the mayor — in much less time.

Somehow, his familiar leather fedora, his heart, his shoulder, a historical salute, punctuation in the Pledge plus a demonstration, German military aggression, the time it took him to travel from the far end of the head table, and a few other choice matters, managed to get stuffed into the stocking of a spontaneous speech before anyone noticed that the dinner hour was beckoning.