Alphonse Louis Silvestri

Remembered For

Kind Generosity

Alphonse Louis Silvestri, 90, husband of the late Florence Hughes Silvestri, died at home December 10, with his cherished daughter, Deborah, and his devoted caregiver and friend of more than four and a half years, Milagros Rivera, at his side. Known to his friends as Al, he was born February 27, 1916, in Hartford to Vincenzo and Maria Corrado Silvestri, who at an earlier time braved emigration to the United States through Ellis Island from Guardia Perticara, Italy.

Mr Silvestri is survived by his loving daughter, Deborah and her husband, Theodore J. Kennedy, of Sandy Hook; three grandchildren, James Silvestri of Norwalk, Dr Hughes Silvestri and wife, Ana, of Knoxville, Tenn., and Brenda Maselli and her husband, Joseph, of Old Saybrook; three great-grandchildren, Margaret Anne, Joseph, and William Maselli; and by a daughter-in-law, Margaret Silvestri of Easton. He was predeceased by his son, James, and by brothers, Prospero and Raphael.

As a young man, Mr Silvestri worked for local tobacco farms throughout the greater Hartford area and for the family-owned sand and gravel business. While employed by Pratt & Whitney of Hartford, he had a chance meeting with a beautiful, redheaded bookkeeper in a nearby department store, which made him a believer in love at first sight. They became engaged and were the first couple to marry in the then new Corpus Christi Church of Wethersfield. Following their marriage, they moved to Stratford where Mr Silvestri was already working for Vought Sikorsky, producing the world famous Sikorsky flying boats.

A short time later, he became the youngest foreman in the newly formed Chance Vought where he supervised the welding department in the manufacture of the F4U Corsair throughout World War II. He would later proudly proclaim the F4U as the “plane that won the war!” In 1948 when Chance Vought relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas, Mr Silvestri chose to remain in Stratford and with three co-workers and formed Spotwelders Inc. Eventually, he became the sole owner of Spotwelders and with his wife and two children, continued to operate his business until retirement in June 1997.

Mr Silvestri and his family were among the founding parishioners of St Mark’s Roman Catholic Church, where he was active in its Men’s League and also served as a Sunday usher. He will be fondly remembered by his family, friends, and business associates for his kind generosity, sense of humor, and his ever-smiling face.

The Riverview Funeral Home at 390 River Road in Shelton is entrusted with the arrangements. There will be a private prayer service for family and no calling hours.

Please make contributions in his memory to the Stratford Volunteer EMS Association, Inc, PO Box 1366, Stratford CT 06615.

The Newtown Bee      December 22, 2006