More detail on this person: Charles Edward
Silva of Southington passed away after an 18 year
courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease at the
age of 75, on September 13, 2016, surrounded by
family and friends. Born in Norfolk, VA, December
21, 1940, he was the son of the late Joseph
Charles Silva and Mildred Bernice Kamendulis
Silva.
Eddie, as he was known by all, grew up in
Gloucester, Massachusetts, and graduated from
Gloucester High School. He went on to the
University of New Hampshire where he graduated as
a history major. He played hockey, football, and
lacrosse for the University teams.
Ed was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into
the U.S. Army after completing the ROTC program
at UNH. He eventually was deployed to Phu Loi,
Hoa, twenty-five miles north of Saigon (now Ho Chi
Min City) in South Vietnam, where he served as a
helicopter pilot. Captain Silva received eighteen
air medals, flew several hundred missions and was
shot down three times. He recovered one of the
rounds that had been fired into his aircraft and
turned it into a necklace, which he wore while in
Vietnam for good luck. He carried a number of
notables during his tour including Ann-Margret and
Vice President Humphrey. Ed also enjoyed a drink
of vodka with Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin at
the Paris Air Show.
While in the service, Captain Silva was stationed
at Fort Eustis, Virginia; Fort Wolters, Texas;
Fort Rucker, Alabama; Munich, Germany; Fort
Campbell, Kentucky; Vietnam; and Fort Knox,
Kentucky.
After completing active duty, Eddie settled in
Southington, Connecticut where he worked for
Allstate Insurance for the next thirty years.
During that time, he completed his twenty years of
service in the Connecticut National Guard. He also
served as president of the Southington Rotary
Club, served on the Board of the Southington
YMCA, and the Board of Directors of the Northern
Little League. He was also an active member of the
girls and boys sports programs in Southington. Ed
loved sports, especially playing golf, rooting on
the Boston Red Sox and all Boston sports teams.
Eddie, as he was known to his friends and
colleagues, was a man who defined the meaning of
perseverance, courage and love. He was a coach,
mentor and friend to the very end. We learned to
count our time together by the moments we shared
and the laughs we had, which were many.
Ed Silva is the proud father of four devoted
children: Ed Silva Jr. and Nicole Fallon of
Milford, Kevin Silva and wife Mary of Carlisle,
PA, Melinda Silva and wife Denise of Southington,
and Julie Wlodarczyk of Tolland. He has ten
special grandchildren: Katie, Matthew, Brian,
Megan, Kent, Lucas, Grace, Charlie, Max and
Maya and several nieces and nephews. He is also
survived by Bob and Elinor Gregory, lifelong
friend Roger Lee, and former son-in-law Matthew
Wlodarczyk.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on
Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 10:15 am from
the DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 North Main
Street, Southington to Saint Dominic's Church,
1050 Flanders Road for a Mass at 11 am. Calling
hours will be 4-7 pm on Friday, September 16,
2016. Burial will be at the convenience of the
family.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be
made to the Southington VFW, 68 Main St,
Southington, CT or American Parkinson Disease
Association, 27 Allendale Dr, North Haven, CT
06473.
This information was last updated 09/30/2016
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