Lifelong resident was co-owner of Marinwood ranch
Longtime dairy rancher Joseph F. Silveira of Novato died Thursday at a San Rafael convalescent home after a 13-month battle with a bone marrow disease. He was 79.
Born and raised in Marin, Mr. Silveira, along with his brother Tony, owned and operated the more-than 300-acre Silveira Ranch along Highway 101 north of San Rafael that for years has been eyed by housing advocates for development and by environmentalists for open space.
His wife, Evelyn, described him as "a hard-working man" with an extraordinary commitment to the dairy business and a great lover of the outdoors.
"The ranching was his whole life," she explained, adding that he "fixed fences and chased a lot of cows" in his day. "He liked his garden. He liked to work out in the yard - he spent a lot of time with his roses."
Born on Oct. 1, 1923 on the Miller Ranch, now in Marinwood, Mr. Silveira was the son of the late Anthony F. and Mary E. Silveira. The Dixie School District school in Marinwood is named after his mother.
He attended Dixie School and graduated from San Rafael High School in 1943.
An active community member in his adult years, Mr. Silveira at one time served in the then all-volunteer Novato Fire Department. Later, he joined the Novato Fire Protection District board, where he served from 1965 to 1979. He also served for 22 years on the Novato Sanitary District board before resigning his seat in July 2002.
He was a member of numerous organizations, including Nicasio Parlor No. 183 Native Sons of the Golden West, Novato Druids Grove No. 113 and Petaluma Elks Lodge No. 0901.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his brothers, Tony Silveira, Carlos Silveira and George P. Silveira; his sisters, Jean Silveira O'Donnell and Dolores Silveira Cordeiro; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Keaton's Redwood Chapel at 1801 Novato Blvd. in Novato.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church at 1806 Novato Blvd. in Novato.
Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church; burial will follow at Valley Memorial Park in Novato.
Contact Jennifer Upshaw via e-mail at jupshaw@marinij.com
From the Marin IJ | |
Saturday, February 4, 2012