Tom Silva

Tom Silva passed peacefully a day before his 101st birthday in the presence of his family at the Brock Fahrni Pavilion in Vancouver, BC. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Anne in 1996. Tom was born in North Vancouver to Manuel Silva and Elizabeth Cordocedo. Tom was predeceased by siblings Manuel, Virginia, Alexander, Elvida, Annie and Benjamin, and he is survived by, Amy, Jim and Baldo. Tom is survived by his three sons, Jerry (Carla), Vince (Joyce), and Jim (Bev), and six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Tom was proud to be a part of the Labour Movement. In the 1930's, he was a commercial fisherman, at times accompanying his father, with the historical cannery fleets on the BC coast. Between 1941 and 1965, Tom was a Ship's Rigger, first with the Pacific Dry Dock , and then with the Burrard Dry Dock . During this same period, he was a Shop Steward with the Marine Workers & Boilermakers Industrial Union Local #1. From 1965 until he retired in 1984, Tom was a Janitor with School District No. 44 (North Vancouver). A Life Member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 389, he served as President from 1967 to 1978. Tom was also an Honourary Life Member of the New Democratic Party, recognized by the Leader in 2015 for his contributions towards achieving social democracy.

Tom was a Member of the Silver Harbour Center Society of North Vancouver from 1984 until his passing. He served as President of the Society from 1986 to 2001, and as a Vice-President until 2010. Tom was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 in recognition of his outstanding and exemplary contributions to his community and to Canada as a whole.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Silver Harbour would be appreciated.

A Celebration of Life for Tom will be held at the Holiday Inn, 700 Old Lillooet Rd, North Vancouver on August 12 at 2:30 PM.