James P. Silk Sr.

1931 - 2023

News story
By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer

James P. Silk, Sr., who held key roles with a leading Toledo bank, serving as a vice president, counsel, and trust department head, died Monday at ProMedica Toledo Hospital. He was 92.

He learned early this year that he had multiple myeloma, his wife, Kay Silk, said.

He joined the former First National Bank of Toledo in 1957 and retired 40 years later from its successor, Fifth Third Bank of Northwestern Ohio.

Then, until age 90, he was affiliated with the law firm of Spengler Nathanson. The firm had done work for First National through the years, and he initially worked on bank matters, trusts, and estates, said his son Jim Silk, Jr., a Spengler Nathanson partner who joined the firm two years before his father's arrival.

He also served as an expert witness, advised other attorneys, and for a time was administrator of the firm.

He enjoyed coming to the office to engage with staff and colleagues, to talk about growing up in Toledo, the Army, and his career – and his sons and his grandchildren.

"He would be quick to brag about his grandkids," said Mr. Silk, Jr., who got to see first hand the attributes he'd heard about from others. "When I first started working as a lawyer in 1996 and 97, I was in litigation, and again and again attorneys would come up and say, 'Your dad is a great guy, and he's been helpful in many areas.' I had the opportunity when he came here, I would bounce things off him, which was helpful for me. He was a good resource."

James Paul Silk was born May 22, 1931, to Catherine and Joseph Silk and grew up in West Toledo. He was a 1949 graduate of Central Catholic High School and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he was a history major. A year of law studies at the University of Michigan followed before Army service during the Korean War. Stationed in Panama, his duty was in the military police, Mrs. Silk said.

He began at First National Bank in the collection department. While working, he took night classes at the University of Toledo's law school. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1962.

He was named a trust officer, elected a vice president in 1970 and in 1976 to be bank counsel. First National President Charles L. McKelvy, Jr., the next year announced that Mr. Silk would be assuming the new position of vice president, counsel and trust officer.

He worked with bank customers to set up trusts, to make sure their wishes were carried out. He'd later offer his expertise, with sensitivity and tact, to surviving spouses and family members.

"He was very good at it," Mrs. Silk said. "He listened to what they had to say and gave good advice. He enjoyed it, and it was personal, and he knew what they should be doing."

Mr. Silk, Jr., said: "Those relationships were important to him, and I think that's what made him successful. People trusted him and his advice."

As First National Bank's counsel, he could assess a case quickly to recommend how the bank should proceed.

"He was very bright and analytical, but practical," the younger Mr. Silk said.

He maintained his composure on and off the job.

"He rarely got upset about things," the younger Mr. Silk said. "He was calm. That's the way he conducted himself."

He was a former president of the Toledo Bar Association and the Toledo Junior Bar Association. He served on the banking and commercial law committee of the Ohio Bar Association. He was a former director of the Ohio Bankers Association, first elected to its board in 1980, and was a former president of the group's trust division.

He'd been a president of the Children's Theatre Workshop and an officer of the North Toledo Community House. He was a trustee of the former Mary Manse College and the Toledo Humane Society.

He formerly served on the board of what became Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center and Sunset House.

"He lived here all his life, and he wanted to be involved in the community because he loved Toledo," Mrs. Silk said. He also was on the board of Siena Heights University in Adrian.

He played tennis at Toledo Tennis Club and golfed at courses across the area. He enjoyed travel to Europe, particularly biking jaunts while there. His father was from Ireland, and Mr. Silk journeyed back to visit cousins - and on a family vacation introduced his children and grandchildren to their Irish kin.

He was a member of Corpus Christi University Parish, where he attended daily Mass often and had been a Eucharistic minister, usher, and lector.

Surviving are his wife, the former Kathryn Croxson, whom he married June 8, 1963; sons Jim Silk, Jr., and John Silk; sister, Kathleen Nowicki; brother, Joseph Silk, and seven grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. Nov. 24 at Corpus Christi University Parish, with visitation after 9:30 a.m. Arrangements are by Walker Funeral Home.

The family suggests tributes to Corpus Christi University Parish, the Toledo Museum of Art, or the Toledo Symphony.