Joseph Lawrence Sylva Jr.

Joseph Lawrence Sylva, Jr passed away November 11, 2011 in Utah after a brief illness. Born in Plymouth on July 6, 1946, son of the late Joseph and Evelyn (Colwell) Sylva, Joe was educated in the Plymouth Schools, graduating from Plymouth-Carver High School in 1964, holding the office of Senior Class President. He went on to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating in 1968. Joe taught math at PCHS for a short time, before devoting full time to his love of the ocean, starting his own business, Plymouth Ocean Tours, offering tours of Plymouth Harbor. It grew into Plymouth to Provincetown Steamship Company, with bay crossing trips and whale watching cruises. Joseph is survived by his wife of 38 years, Gail F. Sylva of Saratoga Springs, Utah, and their five children, Kristin Frey of McIntosh, South Dakota, Kimberly Bulleigh of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Lisa Sylva of Logan, Utah, Jennifer Price of Orem, Utah, and Timothy Sylva, a Marine stationed at Camp Lajeune, Jacksonville, North Carolina, as well as 13 grandchildren, his Aunt Dorothy Silva, his Aunt Phyllis Silva, and several cousins. He was predeceased by his brother, Warren. Joe lived in the Plymouth and Duxbury areas until moving with his family to Asheville, North Carolina in 1991, where he taught math at the Owen Middle School and AB Technical College. After his retirement in 2009, Joe and Gail traveled in their motor home until settling in Utah in 2011. Joe loved to travel and each summer would travel to see family and discover new places all over the country. Joe loved to hike and especially enjoyed hiking from the South to North rim of the Grand Canyon and back again. Also, Mt. Washington, Pikes Peak, and Mt. Timpanogos were among his favorite places to hike. He is loved and is sorely missed.