When Maurice “Mo” Silverman ’68 reflects on his time at Stuyvesant, what stands out most isn’t just the records he broke or the tackles he made—it’s the quiet power of perseverance, and the intention he brought to every moment, even when no one was watching. For Mo, sports began as a refuge from family trauma—an outlet that soon became a wellspring of strength and focus.

The youngest in a working-class Jewish family, Mo came of age in a household shaped
by hardship and resilience. His upbringing gave him a keen sense of self-reliance and purpose, and athletics became not just an escape but a way forward—a realm where effort translated into results and where he could define himself on his own terms. He recently sat down with SHSAA Executive Director, Diego Segalini ’98, to share more about his untold victories and the transformative power of athletics.

Though Mo was voted Athlete of the Year by the Stuyvesant Class of 1968 and was a two-way starter and top scorer on the Peglegs Football team, many of his most impressive feats in track and field happened independently, outside the usual team structure. While his Stuyvesant teammates trained on campus three days a week, Mo often hopped the subway to Van Cortlandt Park, where he trained under renowned AAU coach Dr. Richie Lewis. These solo efforts led to major accomplishments—including a silver medal in the 60-yard high hurdles at the prestigious Eastern States Indoor Track Championships—but few at Stuyvesant ever knew. Despite his remarkable accomplishments, his victories often went unnoticed by the school community—his track and field coach rarely attended his meets, and his successes weren’t reported in school publications.

“I competed alone, trained alone, and didn’t report my results,” Mo recalls. “That silver medal was one of the greatest performances of my high school career, but I kept it to myself. I was a shy 17-year-old, and I just kept moving forward.”

The race itself taught Mo a lifelong lesson. After a perfect start, he found himself ahead
of the pack, but a single thought—“I’m going to win”—broke his rhythm. He clipped the
fifth hurdle and was passed at the line.

“That moment showed me that you have to visualize success all the way through,” he says. “Then let it all go and run to the tape. Intention matters more than talent alone.”

On the football field, coached by Murl Thrush and assistant coach Fred Eckhaus ’62, Mo’s determination was equally fierce. In a pivotal moment during a game against Curtis High School, he had carried the ball five times in a row and was running on fumes. When the coach called his number yet again, he dug deep, found a reserve of strength he didn’t know he had, and drove for a crucial first down. “That play was more than just football. It was a revelation—that who I am is greater than what I feel in a single moment.”

After Stuyvesant, Mo earned a scholarship to Choate, where he set a school record in the 120-yard high hurdles (a time that still ranks among the top three in school history), won gold in the 4×220 relay, and placed second in the New England Prep School Championships. Those performances helped him gain admission to Columbia University, where he continued to compete in football and track before injuries and academic demands brought his varsity career to a close.

Following college, Mo spent 15 years in banking—working in commercial, corporate, and international lending. Eventually, he made a bold pivot: earning a master’s degree in accounting and becoming a licensed CPA. His second act focused on mission-driven work, primarily with small organizations and nonprofits where he could apply his skills with integrity. Most recently, he served as CFO of a New York State–funded preschool, helping steer the institution through a financial crisis—until a cancer diagnosis redirected his path once again.

After surviving stage III melanoma, Mo found renewed purpose. He began training again, earned a USA Track & Field Level 1 Coaching Certification, and briefly worked as a personal trainer and running coach before a recurrence of the disease forced him to pause. Thanks to new immunotherapy treatments, he is now in remission. Today, at 75, Mo lives in Danbury, Connecticut, in a wooded community with access to a gym and yoga studio—an environment he calls ideal for a late-life renaissance. He’s training again, starting from the ground up, with hopes of returning to competition and continuing to mentor others through coaching.

“I’ve cleared a space to really do this now,” he says. “I want to see how far I can go—and if I can compete again, that would be the icing on the cake. I’m reconnecting with the part of me that always ran toward the challenge.”

Mo credits Stuyvesant with giving him that first, life-changing opportunity: “Stuyvesant was where I hit the lottery,” he says. “It opened a door—and I ran through it.”

Today, Mo remains deeply passionate about athletics, particularly track and field, and credits sports with shaping his sense of identity, discipline, and self-belief. He’s eager to reconnect with fellow athletes from Stuyvesant and hopes to mentor current students as they navigate their own journeys.

“I want today’s students—especially athletes—to know that their work matters,” he says. “Athletics isn’t just recreation. It’s a crucible for character.”

Are you a former or current Stuyvesant football or track athlete interested in connecting with Mo Silverman? Reach out to us at [email protected].