John L. Silva

John L. Silva, a lifelong resident of East Bridgewater, died September 13, 2018, in Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Son of the late Helen (Smith) and John L. Silva, Mr. Silva graduated from East Bridgewater High School and was an East Bridgewater Police Officer for 37 years and served his last 17 years as chief of the department. As chief he was instrumental in bringing computer technology to the department and implementing the departments first station computers and cruiser laptops. Chief Silva appointed the town's first school resource officer and brought the DARE program to the schools. He served as a member of the Plymouth County Chiefs of Police Association and the Southeastern Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. As chief, John was dedicated to the youth of the community of East Bridgewater. He was a community leader and was instrumental in the development of two separate youth sports complexes in town. One complex, the Church Street and Hobart Street fields is named after Chief Silva (the John L. Silva Athletic Complex). The second complex is now known as the Belmont Street Soccer Fields. After his retirement, he embarked on a second challenge as a real estate investor. He and his family bought many properties and worked together to build on and improve these properties for rental investments. He took pride in the quality of the properties and in building positive relationships with the tenants and buyers. He was the beloved husband of Jean C. (Melendy) Silva for 47 years; devoted father to John L. Silva III and Joel W. Silva also of East Bridgewater; brother of Joan Jensen of Texas, Ronald Silva of Whitman and Cheryl White of Raynham and the late Marilyn Attwood; grandfather of Rachel and Reese Silva. A funeral Mass will be held at St. John's Church in East Bridgewater on Friday, September 21, at noon. Visiting hours will be held in East Bridgewater at the Prophett, Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, 35 Spring Street, in East Bridgewater, Thursday, September 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will follow the funeral Mass in Central Cemetery in East Bridgewater. For online guest book, www.ccgfunerlhome.com. East Bridgewater Prophett-Chapman Cole & Gleason