Sylvester Sylvia

Sylvester Sylvia 87 of New Bedford passed away unexpectedly on Monday November 22, 2010 at St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River. Sylvester was the husband of Alexandra “Alex” (Goncalves) Sylvia and the son of the late John S. Sylvia and Idalina (Goncalves) Sylvia. He was born in Rochester and lived in the area his entire life. Sylvester was a communicant of St. Julie Billiart Church. Sylvester was the Assistant Register of Deeds in New Bedford from 1958-1960, Assistant Chief Secretary to Governor Endicott Peabody from 1963-1964, Director of the Project Development Services Bureau in the Department of Commerce and Development from 1965-1993, and Director of Relocation for the State of Massachusetts from 1981-1993. Sylvester was a Bristol County Commissioner for 15 years. He has been member of the New Bedford Democratic City Committee for 57 years serving as chairman from 1960-1964 and 1968-1972. He was a Delegate to the Massachusetts Democratic State Conventions and attended over 55 of them. He was the S.E. Mass Campaign Chairman for Senator Edward M. Kennedy since 1962. Sylvester was the Parish Chairman of the committee for the construction of Bishop Stang High School from 1950 to 1951. He has been an active member of the Feast of Blessed Sacrament Committee since 1952, serving as President, Assistant Treasurer and just recently, Grand Marshall in August 2010. Sylvester was an active member of various charitable organizations including: American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and many more. He also hosted the television program, “The Portuguese Around Us.” He graduated president of his senior class from Middleborough High School in 1941, enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 and was a veteran of World War II. Sylvester’s passion throughout  his long and accomplished life was politics, people, and family; most importantly his wife of 59 years, Alex. Survivors include; his wife. His son, David John Sylvia and his wife Veronica of South Africa, Daughter Ann-Marie Quinn and her husband Paul of Portsmouth, RI, Dulce Langhan of Dartmouth, his sister Beatrice Johnson and her husband Milton of Fairhaven. Grandchildren Alexandria Sylvia, Christina Quinn, and Sean Paul Sylvia, and also several nieces and nephews. He was brother of the late John Sylvia, Joseph Sylvia, and Mary Mitchell. His funeral mass will be held on Saturday, 9am at St. Julie Billiart Church in North Dartmouth. Visitation will be Friday 4pm-8pm. Burial will be Private. In Lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association 20 Speen Street Framingham, MA 01710 or the American Cancer Society 30 Speen Street Framingham, MA 01710.