Obituary of Walter J. Silva

Walter J. Silva Jr., 57, of Peabody, a well known Phys. Ed Teacher in the Peabody School System for 32 years, died early Saturday morning at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers with his wife, son and daughter by his side after a nine month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was the husband of Joyce M. (Anderson) Silva, his high school sweetheart of 40 years and with whom he shared 30 years of marriage. He was born in Salem, MA on June 12, 1952, the son of the late Walter J. and Vitalina (Silva) Silva Sr. and was a lifelong resident of Peabody. He was a graduate of Peabody Vets. Memorial High School in 1971 where he excelled and earned three letters in three sports. He graduated from Boston State College in 1976 and had received his Masters Degree from Salem State College. Walter was a Health and Physical Education teacher with the Peabody Elementary School System for 32 years at the West Memorial and later the McCarthy School. He had the ability to touch many lives while teaching and coaching and he left a mark on many of his students in helping them to prepare their way in life. He played in the Men’s recreational Softball teams in Peabody’s recreational league for 20 years. He was an extremely devoted family man who cared for his own family as well as for his aging parents at home and at the nursing home for many years. His joy in life was for providing for others and was a man of great humility and talent. He recently took up golf and enjoying sharing the game with his long time friends, John and Tony, his brother-in-law Paul Anderson and his son Matt. Surviving him besides his wife are a son, Matthew A. Silva of Peabody, a daughter, Leeanne A. Silva of Peabody, his sisters and brothers-in-law, Carol and Herbert Collibee of Peabody and Linda and Bob DeSola of FL, his nieces and nephews, David Connor, Ritchie Connor, Dawn Hedgepath, Paul Anderson Jr., Donna Sawyer and David and Michael Collibee, his Aunt, Mary Guy of Salem, and his cousins Denise and Diane. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4- 8 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. His funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9:00 AM from the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Peabody/Salem line at 10:00 A.M. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Those who prefer may make donations to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 in his memory.