John Silvia, age 80, of Somerset, Massachusetts, died on Sunday, September 2, 2007, after a struggle with pulmonary fibrosis, lung inflammation, and heart related problems.

Born in November of 1926, in Fall River, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Manuel & Amelia Silvia. He attended the Fall River public schools and Durfee High School, before enlisting and serving in the U.S. Air Force at the close of World War II. Upon his completion of active service, he returned to Fall River and on June 12, 1948 was united in marriage to Hortense Silva, also of Fall River, Massachusetts.

In 1950, he and his wife moved to Somerset Massachusetts, where they raised three sons. John Silvia resided in Somerset until his death, where he became a well known town and community leader, mostly being known and regarded as a genuinely warm and beloved individual.

As a young man, he worked and later became the office manager of a family related business, the Colonial Wholesale Beverage Company, where he worked for some 14 years. But, even while working during the day, he tirelessly continued his education for these 14 years, attending classes and schools in the evening, obtaining his high school degree, a Bachelor's Degree from Bryant College, and later a Special Education Certification as well as attending the Master Program at Bridgewater State College. While always maintaining a business as an active Public Accountant (PA), and while obtaining his teaching certificates, he began a teaching career which lasted for over 21 years, first at the Somerset Middle School and later at the Somerset High School, where he taught as a Special Needs and Learning Disabilities Specialist. He also taught business law, bookkeeping and accounting in the Business Department of Somerset High School. He was voted the teacher of the year and was best remembered, by more than a generation of Somerset High School students as a popular, loving and caring teacher.

In 1988, he retired from Somerset High School, and then owned and operated a computer learning center and computer business, teaching at Fisher Junior College and also giving private computer training and instruction to the general public. In 2001-2002, he retired from his computer training business, and after earning and being conferred with the status as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he maintained a small CPA practice until his death.

During the post-war formative growth years in the Town of Somerset, John Silvia was extremely active in town and community affairs. He was appointed and served as a charter member of the Somerset Industrial Commission, a town appointed position which he held for over 30 years. He was one of the original founders of both Somerset Little League Baseball and Somerset Youth Hockey, which organized leagues he served for many years as a board member and as a coach. He also served as the Vice-President of the Citizens Scholarship Foundation in Somerset, was a board Member of the Greater Fall River Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and served on numerous other charitable organization committees. John was also a Lector at the St. John of God parish in Somerset for 38 years.

John is survived by his wife, Hortense, his three sons, Atty. John Silvia, Jr. and his wife Susan, Jeffrey Silvia, and Atty. Jerald Silvia and his wife Laurie, nine grandchildren, John R. Silvia and his wife Melissa, Jeffrey D. Silvia and his wife Tammi, Dr. James E. Silvia and his wife Lindsey, Jared J. Silvia and his wife Julie, Justin A. Silvia and his wife Erin, Jacob N. Silvia, Jillian M. Silvia, Lindsey J. Silvia, and Joshua E. Silvia, and six great-children, Jeffrey D. Silvia, Jr., John R. Silvia, Jr., Janey L. Silvia, Madison E. Silvia, Hadley G. Silvia, and Anderson J. Silvia. John is also survived by his only sibling, his sister Irene Rezendes. He is also survived by brother and sister-in-laws and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for John Silvia were held Thursday, September 6, 2007, from the Silva-Faria Somerset Funeral Home, with a Funeral Mass offered in St. John of God Church, Somerset. Committal Services with full Military Honors were observed prior to Interment at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Fall River.