Antone L. "Tony" Silva, Esq., of Mattapoisett died May 16, 2008, at home. He would have been 85 in June. He was the devoted and loving husband of Elsie R. (Ribeiro) Silva.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Antonio and Maria (Lima) Silva, he was raised in Dartmouth, lived in New Bedford while summering in Mattapoisett and retired to Mattapoisett in 1988. Mr. Silva was a graduate of Northeastern University with a B.S. in Business Administration and of Boston University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate.
Mr. Silva served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 3rd Division Calvary in the European Theatre. He was a distinguished and decorated veteran, receiving the Bronze and Silver Star for Bravery, a purple heart, the Croix de Guerre with Palm from General de Gaulle, the Good Conduct medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the E.T.O. ribbon with a Bronze Arrowhead, the Distinguished Unit Badge, the American Theater Campaign ribbon and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre ribbon.
He was an attorney in private practice and served as a State Representative and later as a State Senator for the New Bedford and Dartmouth district. During his tenure as a State Senator he was instrumental in converting SMTI to the liberal arts university SMU, now UMASS Dartmouth. He also served for twenty-five years as Postmaster of the New Bedford Area from 1965-1990. He was a member of the original board of directors for WHALE, a founding member of the Prince Henry Society, and a member of the Rhode Island Rose Society.
In his retirement he loved gardening, and was an avid rosearian. When he was not gardening he enjoyed spending his afternoons sitting on his porch and watching his American flag fly to the backdrop of Mattapoisett harbor.
As a rosearian he and his wife, Elsie, won numerous awards including the king, the queen and the best of show. Throughout his long life Mr. Silva was passionate about his family, his roses, his country and the well being of others.
Mr. Silva was a communicant of St. Anthony's Church in Mattapoisett.
Survivors include his wife: 3 sons, Paul A. Silva, and his wife, Phyllis, and Robert J. Silva, and his wife, Barbara, all of Mattapoisett and Steven J. Silva and his wife, Julie, of Arvada, CO; 3 sisters, Leonor and husband Norman Gonsalves of Westport, Izabel and husband Antonio Luizinho of Dartmouth and Margaret and husband George Wilkinson of Freetown; a sister-in-law, Mary Ribeiro of New Bedford; a brother-in-law, Frank and wife, Celeste Ribeiro, of South Dartmouth; 4 grandchildren, Jared, Philip, Alex and Olivia; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Mary Douglas and her husband George of Dartmouth.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home For Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett Tuesday, May 20th at 9 AM. Funeral Mass at St. Anthony's Church, Mattapoisett at 10 AM. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Monday, May 19th from 4-8 PM. Flowers acceptable or remembrances may be made to the Mattapoisett Library Trust Inc., 7 Barstow Street, P.O. Box 475, Mattapoisett, MA 02739 or Overlook Hospice VNA & Hospice, P.O. Box 1000 Charlton, Ma 01507.