Newmarket, N.H. – Rogerio “Roger” John Silva, 89, of Newmarket, N.H., formerly of Hudson, passed away Friday, Dec. 30, 2016 at the Hyder Hospice House in Dover, N.H.
Born in Hudson to Etelvina “Ethel’ and Joaquim “Jack” Silva, formerly of Fuyat Street, Hudson, Roger and his family lived in Hudson from the early 1900s through the mid 1970s. His parents met in Hudson after immigrating to the United States from Santa Maria and Lisbon, Portugal.
Roger attended school in Hudson and started working at an early age at a variety of jobs to help support the family, especially through the Great Depression. He graduated from high school in 1945 and served in the Army during the Korean War at Okinawa, where he also played the saxophone in the military band. He was honorably discharge in 1947, attended Worcester Tech and then Northeastern University, earning his BS in Engineering.
Roger started his career in small machine shops and later worked for GM, GE and several other large U.S. Ccrporations designing tooling and automated assembly lines before retiring from the Kingston Warren Corporation in Newfields, N.H. in 1997.
As an accomplished saxophone player, he played in many regional bands throughout his life, including the Harry James Orchestra. He enjoyed bowling, golf, traveling in his RV and UNH Hockey.
For the past 25 years, he has been accompanied by his loving companion, Rose, who he loved and cherished dearly and who stood by him always.
After a hard-fought battle with his terminal illness, he was predeceased by his wife, Gertrude Irving-Silva, and by his brother, Lydio “Lee’ Silva. He leaves behind his loving family, daughter, Lee Ann and her husband Anthony of Maynard; his son, Steven and his wife Sara of East Wakefield, N.H.; his grandchildren, Sam, Todd, Zachary, and Jason, and great-grandchildren Anthony, Addison, and Gunnar.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 5, with a 9 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Michael’s Church, 21 Manning St., Hudson. Burial will be private at St. Michael’s Cemetery. Tighe Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
