Obituary: Robert (Bob) Da Silva, Oct. 11, 1928-March 11, 2025
For The Madera Tribune
Bob Da Silva.
Bob Da Silva was 96 years old and was born on Oct. 11,1928. He passed away on March 11, 2025. He was the third born of five siblings in Madera, CA, of immigrant parents, Felisberto Da Silva and Marie Cabral Da Silva both from the Azores Islands. He and his siblings worked very hard on the family dairy farm and were taught a very strong work ethic.
Bob attended Arcola Elementary School and later Madera Union High School, class of 1947, where he enjoyed playing football and basketball. He then attended the College of the Sequoias in Visalia. He was on the COS football team where he made many lifelong friends with his teammates. While attending COS, he met and married Mary Nelle Woolf of Dinuba. He entered the Army infantry during the Korean War on Jan. 15,1951 and was discharged Oct. 14,1952. Upon returning home from the war, he was excited to meet for the first time his six-month-old son, Danny. Following his return home he then went to work on the Da Silva family dairy farm. He later bought and began farming his own property in the La Vina district. His son Tim, followed in his footsteps and eventually took over the farming operation. They grew many row crops, such as cotton, alfalfa, black–eyed peas, wheat and barley, silage corn for the dairy and eventually began farming almonds. His son Rick ran the dairy business until he sold that property.
He served many years on the board of Golden State Gins and served on the Mosquito Abatement board. He was a member of the Madera Golf and Country Club and enjoyed playing golf with his many golfing buddies. Another fun pastime for him was playing poker with his two different poker groups.
Bob was a great supporter of local high school and college athletics. He spent many years on the sidelines being a Fresno State Red Wave supporter for the basketball and football programs. Also, he was a big 49er fan, attending many years of football games at Candlestick Park. With his family and friends, many fun filled days were spent RVing, boating, water skiing and snow skiing. He also in his later years enjoyed time at the Shaver Lake cabin in the Bretz Mill/Sierra Cedars area and took walks along Granite Ledge.
Bob and Mary had three children, Daniel (Dan), Timothy (Tim), and Richard (Rick) Da Silva. After almost thirty years of marriage, Mary lost her battle with cancer and died on Aug. 30, 1981. Mary had been a teacher and counselor for the Madera Unified School District.
In 1983, Bob married Laura Brungess Pitman and helped raise her daughter, Leslie Pitman Cosyns. They enjoyed traveling both in and outside the country. Highlights were visiting friends in Ireland, and a much-anticipated trip to England, France, and Germany to see many historical WWII sites. In his retirement years one of his great joys was spending time with his many grandchildren. Bob loved to pick them up at school and treat them to ice cream or take them to the Dollar Store for a toy. There were many holiday and birthday dinners, vacations, trips to the zoo, and trips out to the ranch that he spent with his grandchildren.Â
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Felisberto and Maria Da Silva, his first wife Mary Nelle Woolf Da Silva, his sister Mabel Lang, sister-in-law Janet Di Silva (Bones), and brothers Lee da Silva and Marion (Bones) Di Silva.
He is survived by his wife Laura Da Silva, brother Tom (Mary) Da Silva, sister-in-law Anna da Silva, sister-in-law Julie Brungess (Bob Williams), brother-in-law Larry (Karen) Brungess; sons, Daniel (Elaine), Timothy (Janet), Richard (Karen) Da Silva; daughter, Leslie (Ryan) Cosyns; grandsons, Matthew (Charlotte) Da Silva, Bobby Da Silva, Chase and Colton Cosyns, Rick (Mary) Stephens; granddaughters, Andrea (Joe) Perez, Erika (Rob) Trammell, Samantha (Robert Spangler) Da Silva, Lindsey Da Silva, Michelle (Rob) Nadalsky, Carolyn (Welo) Savage, and Chloe, Caylin, and Clara Cosyns. He also has numerous nieces, nephews, great granddaughters and great grandsons.
At Bob’s request, there will be no funeral or celebration of life. He will be laid to rest at Arbor Vitae Cemetery. Remembrances may be made to the Madera County Historical Society or your favorite charity. Bob will be greatly missed by many friends and family members who knew and loved him.
