Alvin Russell Silva

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Al Silva…after a life well-lived, at the age of 86.

An Army Veteran, Husband of 52 years to Barbara Weiland Silva, Father of 2 (Christopher and Jeffrey with Dorothy Cassina Silva), Grandfather of 6 loving grandchildren (Joseph and Sydney of Santa Rosa, and Lauren, Benjamin, Molly and Ari of Sacramento), and was a very proud American and proud Grandfather.

Born in 1939, Al grew up in Petaluma to his parents Russell and Alba Silva on Western Avenue next door to Petaluma Creamery. He attended St. Vincent's from Kindergarten through High School where he was Quarterback of the 1955 Undefeated Mustangs Varsity Hall of Fame Football Team.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1957 and completed Basic Training with Outstanding Performance honors with "Company C" at Ford Ord, California and served in Shimia, Alaska, then overseas to South Korea until 1960. He was then recalled in 1961 by President Kennedy to defend America during the Bay of Pigs incident. He served as an Intelligence Officer in the 508th ASA Group in Alaska and Korea.

Al was honorably discharged in November of 1963 and began a successful career in Financial Services technology with IBM in the 1960's in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu, including leadership roles at early tech firms SunGard, Control Data, and Decimus. He finished his working career as President of a technology company in London, England prior to his retirement in 1997.

After retirement, Al and Barbara lived in Las Vegas, then moved back home to Sonoma in 2003, where he performed his self-described duties as "Tasting Room Technician" (his words) at an outdoor tasting room on the Sonoma Square.

Al loved cruising the World with his wife Barbara on big ships and logged over 85 lifetime cruises covering the World many times over. He took trips with his family to Italy, Austria, Switzerland, England, Belgium, Mexico and Hawaii and was an aggressive consumer and lifetime student of World War II History.

He is preceded in death by his son Christopher William Silva of Santa Rosa, former Cardinal Newman High School and Loyola Marymount University Student Body President and President & CEO of St. Francis Winery (2017). He is also preceded in Heaven by his parents Alba and Russell Silva of Petaluma, Uncle Henry Zucchetti of Santa Rosa.

In lieu of flowers, Al requested that any grateful donations be made to the charities he believed in, including: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Tunnels to Towers Foundation, or Wounded Warriors of America.

Burial will be Private per his request.