Sylvia Slakey

Sylvia Amanda (Loud) Slakey

November 4, 1946--January 23, 2026

Born in Brockton MA to Emery and Gertrude Loud, Sylvia grew up in East Bridgewater MA.

She attended local schools including high school where her father was principal. Her mother passed away due to cancer when Sylvia was a senior.

Sylvia then attended the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then transferred to the new UMass campus in Boston where she graduated with a degree in English. After a period working for Travelers Insurance in Boston, she decided, in 1970, to pursue a teaching credential at Bridgewater (MA) State College. As it happened, Steve Slakey was attending a geography summer course at the college sponsored by the National Science Foundation. They met at dinner their first night.

Sylvia left a snowy Boston in January 1971 and arrived in SoCal on a 95 degree day. They married on February 5, 1971. Four days later the Sylmar earthquake hit providing another jarring reminder that she was not in Boston anymore.

She pursued a teaching credential, reading certificate, and Masters degree at Cal Poly, Pomona, and began teaching at Willow School in the Charter Oak district. She and Steve soon settled in Glendora. Sylvia continued teaching until her son, Andrew, and daughter, Stephanie were born. In a few years she would become very active in the PTA at Williams School. She later established a tutoring practice in reading and math continuing until 2004 when Steve retired from La Puente High School.

They then became active travelers, crossing the U.S. three times on road trips, Fall Foliage trips to New England and summers on Cape Cod and a cruise to Alaska. Several visits to Europe joining their English friends on a canal cruise as well visits to Scotland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland. They also became active members of the EYE-DAS Foundation and community groups, including the Glendora Public Library Board of Trustees where Sylvia served nine years.

In 2018, Sylvia was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and bravely fought a seven year battle against a disease that is often fatal in two or three years. To quote a friend, "she showed so much strength and determination to make the most of her time here". Indeed she was a fighter certainly in part because she wanted to see her two grandchildren grow up.

Sylvia is survived by her husband of nearly 55 years, Steve, son Andrew (Jeff Ta), daughter Stephanie (Caton Brown), grandchildren Owen and Lainey Brown, and "grand dog" Bennett.