In Memoriam: Emma Silvera Johnson, 101

VP and Ex-Credit Chief for Chase Manhattan Panama

 
 

Emma Silvera Johnson, former senior corporate credit VP for branches of Chase Manhattan Bank Panama, died on December 11, 2020, in Miami, we recently learned. She was 101 years old.

 

Jordan was from David, Chiriqui, where she graduated as a teacher. She later moved to Panama City and attended the Instituto Panamericano to learn English, because her father insisted that you must speak English to progress in life. She did not have a college education. 

 

According to a nephew, she began her 40-plus year Chase career in the early 1950s and, during a visit to Chase NY, David Rockefeller distinguished her with a luncheon for being the first woman VP at Chase. 

 

She adopted two children, Harry Jordan and Cathy Gonzalez, both of whom live in Florida and survive her. 

 

 
Jordan with corporate colleagues from CMB Panama in the Panama City home of then Panama country manager Manuel Peña-Morros, in April 1999.
 
 
Remembrances
 
Please send remembrances to
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From Gary Barellier ((VP and Country Manager, Ret. CMB Panama Branches): Emma served in the company of such colleagues as John Ward, Francis Mason, Tim Davis, Jim Therrien, Manuel Peña-Morros, David Wilson, Don Porter, Joel Epstein and others who made the name Chase respected, if not revered, throughout Latam!