Melvyn Silva Obituary
Melvyn Silva
November 7, 1939 - June 7, 2025
Fresno - It is with a heavy heart the family of Melvyn Silva announces his passing on Saturday, June 7, 2025, after a long journey with Multiple Myeloma.
Melvyn was born November 7, 1939, to Joseph and Audrey Silva in Guadalupe, California. He attended high school and community college in Santa Maria, California where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Black. They moved to Fresno, California so Melvyn could complete his BA in education and then his MA in supervision and administration at Fresno State University. During this time, they built a home and raised four children.
Melvyn was a hard worker and held several jobs to provide for his family. While he was a teacher, he also worked evenings at both Handiman and Sears. During summer vacations from teaching, he worked with a friend in the mountains surveying land for roadways to be built. It wasn't long before Melvyn caught the attention of the school administrators. He quickly worked his way up the ladder and became the Dean; Tranquility, Counselor; Central H.S., and eventually Vice Principal; Madera H.S. His zest for life and quirky humor made him especially popular with students and staff. Years after retiring, we couldn't go anywhere with Dad without encountering former students or fellow staff members. He would always amaze people by remembering their names.
Melvyn and Carolyn loved traveling. To earn extra money for their excursions, Melvyn opened his own swimming pool service business, Perfection Pools. He operated that for 15-20 years then turned it over to his son, Craig, who has since carried on the family business. This allowed our parents to enjoy a myriad of vacations from Tahiti to Maui to Cancun and all over the USA following their beloved FSU Bulldogs!
Our father was a man of traditions and created treasured moments for our family to spend time together. Once a month, we gathered to BBQ, play games, enjoy each other's company and celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or holiday. Perhaps some of Melvyn's most cherished memories; however, were the annual, weeklong excursions to Maui and the Cayucos beach house with all the children and grandchildren. The family promises to continue these traditions.
Melvyn is survived by his sons, Craig Silva and Mark Silva; daughter, Tracy Pennell and husband, Bob; daughter, Mechelle Kammermeier and husband, Mark; sister Marie Silva, husband Don, and nephew Paul; grandchildren Max and wife Heather, Paxton and husband, Matt: Cole and partner, Joanna, Callyn, Grace and partner, David, and Tavish; and three great grandchildren, Charlotte, Matthew, and William.
Daddy, Brother, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Friend, you were such a blessing to us all and will forever be in our hearts and memories.
Services will be held August 29, 2025, at 10:00 a.m at St. Anthony's Church in Fresno.
Published by Santa Maria Times on Aug. 22, 2025.