J. Darrison “Mac” Sillesky a resident of North Hill, Needham died at his home on Saturday November 27th. He was 89 years old. Mr. Sillesky graduated cum laude with a BA and MA in mathematics from Syracuse University. He was an associate member of Sigma Xi. Mr. Sillesky was also a graduate of the Harvard Business school Advanced Management Program. He was Vice president and Group Actuary at John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. Mr. Sillesky was a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and vice chairman of the Actuaries Club of Boston. A longtime Needham resident, Mr. Sillesky was actively involved in both his town and church communities. As a longtime member of the Christ Episcopal Church, he was a member of the Vestry and was both a Junior and Senior Warden. He was Chairman of the Christ Church Board of Religious Education and the Diocesan Advance Fund. Mr. Sillesky was a longtime Town Meeting member and a chairman of the town Finance Committee. Mr. Sillesky was a member of the Racial Imbalance in Needham Schools Committee, which brought the METCO program to Needham. He was also the chairman of the Newman Middle School Use Committee. Mr. Sillesky was a member of the Needham Contributory Retirement Board and the Human Services Committee. Mr. Sillesky was actively involved in the YMCA serving as a member of the Board of Directors, Corporate Secretary, Treasurer and President of the Needham YMCA. He was the recipient of the Greater Boston YMCA Higgins-Hood Award. Mr. Sillesky also served as President of the Board of Trustees of the North Hill Retirement Community. An accomplished bridge player, stamp collector and handyman.
He was the beloved husband of 64 years of Mary (Pike) Sillesky and the father of Anne Sillesky Morgan of Walnut Creek CA, Carolin Sillesly Davis and her husband Samuel of Needham and John Dixon Sillesky and his wife Julie of Vero Beach FL. Brother of the late Ralph Lambert Sillesky, he also leaves his grandchildren Ralph H. Morgan III, Kathryn M. Spector, Jessica P. Davis and Jonathan R. Davis. Mr. Sillesky is also survived by 4 great grandchildren, four nephews, their wives and children and many cousins. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Visiting Hours in the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Avenue Needham on Thursday December 2 from 4-7 PM. A Private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Christ Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 1132 Highland Avenue Needham MA 02494.