Deceased May 22, 2019
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In Memory
My father, Richard L. “Dick” Silva, died on May 22, 2019, at age 95. Dick came to Amherst after serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, during which time he was wounded in combat in Belgium, earning a Purple Heart and other distinguished service medals. Dick attended Amherst on the G.I. Bill, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in English, made lifelong friends and developed interests that continued throughout his long and rewarding life.
After Amherst, Dick received his MBA from Harvard University and began a career in retail finance at such stores as Macy’s and Bergdorf Goodman. In his mid-50s, Dick changed careers and went to work for Yale University in development and human resources, retiring as the director of benefits. Throughout his life, Dick supported numerous charities and institutions, including Habitat for Humanity, the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven and his alma mater.
Dick was an honest, smart and hardworking man; he had a quick wit and a keen sense of humor. He loved music and enjoyed the opportunity to travel in his later years. Dick will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched during his eventful life, especially his children and grandchildren and his devoted and loving companion during his final years, Louise Williams, of Chapel Hill, N.C.
Bill Silva ’78