Roll Call Tribute

Barry Neil Silberg, MD 

July 15, 1942 - December 28, 2025 

Dr. Barry Silberg, a loving husband, father, and former Chief of Plastic Surgery at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, died peacefully surrounded by family on December 28, 2025. A veteran who served as a Major in the United States Army Medical Corps in Germany, an Emeritus Member of the Board of the Santa Rosa Symphony, and a long-time Rotary member, Dr. Silberg made his life and career in Santa Rosa for over 40 years as a highly-accomplished plastic surgeon and a beloved member of the community. He was 83.

Following his military service, for which he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service for his contributions to NATO exercises throughout Europe, Dr. Silberg trained in General Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and in Plastic Surgery at the University of Mississippi. He then became the first Chief Resident in Plastic Surgery at the University of California, Davis, before moving to Santa Rosa to build his career and establish his private practice. Dr. Silberg treated countless patients at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, often performing life-changing reconstructive work after accidents or other medical trauma.

Dr. Silberg had a deep curiosity and passion for his work, which led to his development of multiple inventions aimed at improving patient outcomes after surgery. He created the patented Silberg Tissue Preparation System, a technique that makes surgery less traumatic by loosening the tissues and preventing exposure to dehydration, resulting in faster healing. He also researched new methods of antibiotic administration during surgery, to lower the risk of infection and complications during complex procedures. This curiosity extended into his personal life, including his love for engineering, gadgets, and tinkering. Dr. Silberg was always excited to show off a new technological marvel he had acquired, like a remote-control drone or a tourbillon watch, or simply a gag magic trick. He even established a professional photography studio in his office, combining his interests of beauty and technology, and allowing his patients to be a part of that world.

Born in 1942 in Nassau County, New York, Dr. Silberg moved to Houston, Texas with his parents, Allan Silberg and Sherrill Kuttner, brother, Robert Silberg, and sister, Eleanor Silberg, when he was 12 years old. He lived among a large family, surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins, and from an early age displayed a curious and impish disposition that he became known for his entire life. He continued living and studying in Texas through his undergraduate years at Texas A&M University and from there continued to medical school at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas.

After his time in the Army, he returned to Texas to continue his training as a surgeon, and discovered his interest in plastic surgery. Requiring an extra seven years of training, he came to reflect often on early advice from his friend Marc Flatow, who advised him that "time is going to go by at the same rate, no matter what you decide to do. If you really love what you're doing, all that work and all that time and all that sacrifice will amount to almost nothing when you've gotten to the other end. If you love what you do, whatever the price is, it's worth it." Dr. Silberg embodied this ethos, holding such a love for his work that it truly never felt like work. He grew to deeply value the community and camaraderie he shared with his colleagues, and loved being as generous and helpful as possible within the surgical community.

Perhaps equal to his passion for surgery was his interest in music, which he pursued as a pianist, clarinetist, saxophonist, and as a longtime board member of the Santa Rosa Symphony. He was a true audiophile, naturally combining his interests in both gadgetry and music, and was known to play music on his enormous speakers at comically high volumes to the chagrin of his loved ones. His prized possession was his grand piano, on which he played what came to be known as his signature piece, Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major-listen to it if you'd like to spend a moment in his world. Dr. Silberg relished his time spent at the Santa Rosa Symphony, eventually meeting his wife Karin there in 2014.

In his wife Karin, he met an exceptionally caring and steadfast partner, with whom he loved traveling, dining, enjoying music, and making improvements to their home. Karin fearlessly navigated his medical treatment during his times of illness, even when Dr. Silberg, as a doctor, was a demanding patient. As a father, son, and husband, Dr. Silberg took care of his family in the same way he did his patients, always being there to help solve a problem or stitch a wound. He lovingly took care of his own mother until the age of 103, visiting her every day and ensuring she had the best possible care.

From an early age he lived life by his own rules, always interested in evaluating and probing human nature. As a child he and his friends would enjoy testing the limits of societal norms, experimenting with just how many seats one could reserve at a movie theater, or starting a "line to nothing" to see if people would line up behind him (they did). These proclivities also manifested as a love of magic tricks, pranks, and anything that would garner a reaction of surprise.

He remained a kid at heart, enjoying his model train set and indulging his enormous sweet tooth with classic candies from his childhood and life like Boston Baked Beans, Circus Peanuts, and torrone. He was known for buying stores out of their entire supply of candy, and enjoying them while watching classic movies such as It's a Wonderful Life, Young Frankenstein, Sergeant York, and Dr. Strangelove. His adventurous spirit led him to hobbies like scuba diving, skiing, and ice skating, as well as the daily thrill of riding his motorcycle-albeit in full body-armored protective gear. His endless curiosity about the world led to a love of reading about anything from physics, to religion and history, or his favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut.

Dr. Silberg is survived by his wife, Karin, his children Michael, of Santa Rosa, CA, Laura, of Niskayuna, NY, Karen, of Santa Rosa, CA, Andrew, of Roseville, CA, and Sarah, of San Rafael, CA, his four grandchildren, Julian, Adrian, Ellie, and Mila, and his adoring dog Molly.