Theodore Silverstein, 96, a professor of medieval literature who commanded an Army Air Forces intelligence unit in World War II that took over the Eiffel Tower so the Allies could intercept German radio signals, died Saturday, Sept. 1, in the University of Chicago Hospitals.
A noted scholar at the University of Chicago, his work in literature of the Dark Ages “made it clear that it wasn’t all that dark,” said Wayne Booth, a professor of English emeritus at U. of C. “He was an extraordinarily wide-ranging scholar.”
Mr. Silverstein wrote about Old English poetry and lyrics, medieval philosophy and courtly love. His most recent work, “Apocalypse of Paul,” was written in collaboration with Dutch scholar Anthony Hilhorst in 1997 and was an expansion of his first book on the visit the apostle was supposed to have paid to heaven and hell.
“He was not somebody who bit into something without thinking critically,” Booth said. “Being in his presence was being in the presence of a real thinker.”
Born in Liverpool, England, he and his family moved to Boston when he was six. He graduated in 1926 from Harvard University and four years later earned a doctorate in English literature.
At 37, Mr. Silverstein left a medieval literature teaching position at the University of Kansas City to enlist in the Army.
“As a man of Jewish descent, he really felt that he wanted to take part in the fight against the Germans and Hitler,” said his wife, Mary.
He was stationed in North Africa for a year and landed in Sicily with the British. He was transferred to England to help organize a tactical intelligence group for the Normandy invasion.
Mr. Silverstein commanded the detachment that requisitioned the Eiffel Tower to allow the Allies to intercept German radio signals. He and his troops listened in on German communications and decoded them.
His wife knew little of his exploits during the war because, as an intelligence officer, Mr. Silverstein was sworn to secrecy. She recalled that during the war, when they were not yet married but corresponded frequently, his letters contained little news of his experiences.
“They were very unsatisfactory letters,” she said. “While they sent the message of love, they could not tell me anything.”
After the war, they were married and, following a Guggenheim Fellowship, Mr. Silverstein accepted a position with the U. of C., where he remained until he retired in 1973. He continued to publish works on medieval literature and developed an interest in Chinese ceramics, his wife said.
Mr. Silverstein is also survived by a sister, Mildred Nollman. A memorial service is scheduled for 4 p.m. Oct. 11, in Bond Chapel on the University of Chicago campus.
