RALPH N. “WHITEY” SILVERIO

Ralph N. “Whitey” Silverio’s engaging, erudite personality delighted his family, friends, colleagues and fraternity brothers and serviced his not-for-profit clients for nearly 77 years.

He was born in Philadelphia on March 29, 1949 and died on March 16, 2026.  He was the only child of Vincent and Marie (nee Cicchini) Silverio, who preceded him in death.  He graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia in 1967, where he was active in student government and pitched on the baseball team, modeling his game on New York Yankee star Ed “Whitey” Ford and gaining a nickname that stuck.

He first came to Evanston in the summer of 1966 to attend Northwestern University’s National High School Institute, a/k/a the Cherub program.   That convinced him to matriculate at NU.  There he joined Chi Psi Fraternity, eventually becoming President of its motley members, which ranged from Naval ROTC cadets to long haired peaceniks, from members of the football team to the marching band, from six-year med students to professional entertainers, and included Willie the Wildcat and officers of both the Young Republicans and Young Democrats.  He emerged in 1971 with a B.S. in Speech, a bevy of lasting friendships and a marketable talent for connecting with many different types of people.

He initially worked as an admissions counselor at National College in Evanston before his strong Catholic faith guided him to the priesthood.  He studied theology at St. Mary’s Of The Lake Seminary in Mundelein, the University of Chicago and North American College in Rome, Italy.  He celebrated his ordination with a mass at NU’s Sheil Catholic Center on September 17, 1977.

The priesthood did not fit his individualistic tendencies, which idolized Gen. George S. Patton Jr. as much as Pope John XXIII,  John F. Kennedy as much as Richard J. Daley.  His pivot to not-for-profit fundraising fit perfectly with his people skills.  He began at The Chi Psi Educational Trust in Ann Arbor, Michigan, of which he later became a Trustee. Then he returned to Evanston and worked for Roycemore School, Sumner G. Rahr & Company, Lutheran General Hospital, Advocate Health Care, Grenzebach Glier and Associates and Huron Consulting.

He was intensely devoted to Chi Psi Fraternity, consistently facilitating initiation ceremonies in chapters throughout the country that welcomed thousands of students into its brotherhood.  Chi Psi bestowed its Distinguished Service Award on him.

His ebullient manner, impeccably tailored-suits, colorful bow ties, cigars and knowledge of art, cinema, opera, history, politics, religion, food, travel, show business and finance made an indelible impression.  He was natural raconteur who didn’t hesitate to embellish a story to improve it.  His passionate likes (Whitey Ford, Eugene Ormandy, Frank Sinatra, Beethoven, William F. Buckley Jr.) and dislikes (Dick “don’t call me Richie” Allen, Leonard Bernstein, Liza Minelli, Aaron Copeland, Studs Terkel) were part of  his charm and a manifestation of his upbringing—he left Philly, but Philly never left him.

Until his health failed, he was a bon vivant, man-about-town, savoring fine wine, Scotch, martinis and sumptuous meals.  He loved visiting Ireland and Europe—especially his ancestral Italy.  He had many “joints” in many places, but his favorite was Pete Miller’s Seafood & Prime Steak in Evanston, which reciprocated by putting his name on a gold plate on a bar stool.

Cancer, diabetes, atrial flutter and hypertension diminished his lifestyle and made him more of a curmudgeon, but he continued to take immense pleasure from the company of his many survivors:   thousands of Chi Psi brothers; hundreds of friends, colleagues and Godchildren; and many cousins on the East Coast.

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A memorial service will be held in Evanston Illinois at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the Alice Millar complex at Northwestern University. 1870 Sheridan Road, Evanston IL 60201. This service will be held in either the Jeanne Vail Meditation Chapel  or  the adjacent Alice Millar Chapel. The program will enable everyone to speak if they wish. The Chi Psi Educational Trust will host a reception at approximately 4:30 p.m. in the Guild Lounge of Scott Hall, 601 University Place, located across the street from the Allice Millar complex. (Free parking is available in the lots behind Alice Millar, accessible via the alley between Sheridan Road and Clark Street) 

On the East Coast, a memorial mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Church of St. Joan of Arc, 100 Willow Bend Road, Marlton NJ 08053.

Chi Psi Fraternity plans to create a permanent memorial to him at its central office in Nashville, TN.

 

 If you wish to be directly notified, please contact rsilveriomemorial@gmail.com

 Arrangements entrusted to Evanston Funeral & Cremation, Roland F. Weis director. Info 847 866-8843, condolence and guestbook at evanstonfuneral.com