Robert Da Silva

1928 - 2025

Robert (Bob) Da Silva

October 11, 1928 - March 11, 2025

Madera, California - Bob Da Silva was 96 years old and was born on October 11,1928. He passed away on March 11, 2025. He was the third born of five siblings in Madera, CA of immigrant parents, Felisberto Da Silva and Maria Cabral Da Silva both from the Azores Islands. He and his siblings worked very hard on the family dairy farm and were taught a very strong work ethic.

Bob attended Arcola Elementary School and later Madera Union High School, class of 1947, where he enjoyed playing football and basketball. He then attended the College of the Sequoias in Visalia. He was on the COS football team where he made many lifelong friends. While attending COS, he met and married Mary Nelle Woolf of Dinuba. He entered the Army infantry during the Korean War on January 15,1951. Upon returning home from the war in 1952, he was excited to meet for the first time his six month old son, Danny. He then went to work on the Da Silva family dairy farm. Bob later bought and began farming his own property in the La Vina district. His son Tim, followed in his footsteps and eventually took over the farming operation. They grew many row crops through the years, then eventually began farming almonds. His son Rick ran his dairy business until he sold that property.

He served on the boards of both Golden State Gins and the Madera County Mosquito Abatement. He was a member of the Madera Golf and Country Club and enjoyed playing golf with his many golfing buddies. Another fun pastime was playing poker with his two different poker groups.

He spent many years attending Madera High School football games, and he also was a Fresno State Red Wave football and basketball supporter. For many years he had season tickets for the San Francisco 49ers, attending the football games at Candlestick Park. He spent many days with family and friends RVing, boating, water skiing and snow skiing. In his later years he enjoyed time at the Shaver Lake cabin in the Bretz Mill/Sierra Cedars area.

Bob and Mary had three children, Daniel (Dan), Timothy (Tim), and Richard (Rick) Da Silva. After almost thirty years of marriage, Mary lost her battle with cancer and died on August, 30,1981. Mary had been a teacher and counselor for the Madera Unified School District.

In 1983, Bob married Laura Brungess Pitman and helped raise her daughter, Leslie Pitman Cosyns. They enjoyed traveling to Europe and the United Kingdom. Highlights of their travels were visiting friends in Ireland, and a much anticipated trip to England, France, and Germany to see the historical WWII sites. In his retirement years one of his great joys was spending time with his many grandchildren. Bob loved to pick them up at school and treat them to ice cream or take them to the Dollar Store for a toy. There were many holiday and birthday dinners, vacations, trips to the zoo, and trips out to the ranch that he spent with his grandchildren.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Felisberto and Maria Da Silva, his first wife Mary DaSilva, his sister Mabel Lang, sister-in-law Janet Di Silva (Bones), and brothers Lee da Silva and Marion (Bones) Di Silva.

He is survived by his wife Laura Da Silva, brother Tom (Mary) Da Silva, sister-in-law Anna da Silva, sister-in-law Julie Brungess (Bob Williams), brother-in-law Larry (Karen) Brungess; sons, Daniel (Elaine), Timothy (Janet), Richard (Karen) Da Silva; daughter, Leslie (Ryan) Cosyns; grandsons, Matthew (Charlotte) Da Silva, Bobby Da Silva, Chase and Colton Cosyns, Rick (Mary) Stephens; granddaughters, Andrea (Joe) Perez, Erika (Rob) Trammell, Samantha (Robert Spangler) Da Silva, Lindsey Da Silva, Michelle (Rob) Nadalsky, Carolyn (Welo) Savage, and Chloe, Caylin, and Clara Cosyns. He also has numerous nieces, nephews, great granddaughters and great grandsons.

At Bob's request, there will be no funeral or celebration of life. He will be laid to rest at Arbor Vitae Cemetery. Remembrances may be made to the Madera County Historical Society or your favorite charity. Bob will be greatly missed by many friends and family members who knew and loved him.