2019 -- S 0639

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING EDWARD DESILVA

     Introduced By: Senators Satchell, Conley, McKenney, Lynch Prata, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: March 20, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Edward DeSilva of Berkley, Massachusetts, formerly of West Warwick,

Rhode Island, passed away at his home on March 2, 2019. He was the devoted husband of Diane

DeSilva; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. DeSilva was born in West Warwick, a son of the late Richard and Maria

DeSilva. He was a 1952 graduate of West Warwick High School, where he was an accomplished

athlete and a star player on the football team. In 1956, he graduated from Boston College, where

he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, and was a member of the football

team. After college, Mr. DeSilva served our nation with honor and distinction in the United States

Navy; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. DeSilva began his distinguished career as a public servant in 1965,

serving as the Director of the West Warwick/Coventry Head Start program. He simultaneously

earned a Master’s Degree in Secondary Administration from Rhode Island College in 1973. He

also served as the Principle/Vice Principle of John F. Deering Jr. High School from 1969 to 1976;

and

     WHEREAS, In 1976, Mr. DeSilva transitioned away from the administrative side of the

education field, and returned to the classroom, teaching math from 1976 to 1990 at John F.

Deering Jr. High School, before his retirement in 1990. He loved the game of football and was a

distinguished football coach. However, the most important element of his life was his family and

his devotion to them as a loving husband and beloved father. He was a true friend to many and he

will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Diane, Mr. DeSilva leaves behind his children,

Audrey Troll and her husband, Michael, Claudia Pearson and her husband, Kenneth, Carla

Thurston, Denys Russo and her husband, Nicholas III, and Joel DeSilva, and two step-children,

Robert Bradbury and his wife, Paula, and David Bradbury and his wife, Beth. He also leaves

behind his two brothers, Albert DeSilva, Jr., and Richard DeSilva, Jr., twelve grandchildren and

nine great-grandchildren. He was the father of the late David DeSilva and was the brother of the

late Manuel and Arthur DeSilva; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby expresses its deepest condolences to the DeSilva Family on the passing of Edward

DeSilva; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Diane DeSilva and Family.

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