Gerald Silven Obituary

Gerald A. Silven, 85, passed away on October 11th, 2025 surrounded by his loving family. 

Born in Worcester on November 3, 1939, to Herbert A. Silven and Gretta F. (Berggren) Silven. He is predeceased by his sister, Donna G. (Silven) Kesseli and his brother-in­ law Phillip Kesseli.

Jerry’s most memorable event as a child was the 1953 Worcester tornado that destroyed his neighborhood. He often spoke of just finishing his paper route only seconds before the tornado struck his house. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to West Boylston where he graduated from the newly built West Boylston High School as a member of its first graduating class, 1958.

After high school he enrolled in the engineering program of Worcester Junior College, where during the weekends he enjoyed playing the piano at various locations throughout the Worcester area.

After growing weary of the school routine Jerry joined the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam conflict. He was assigned to the operations division aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Warrington (DD-843) as a quartermaster in charge of navigation. During his deployments he participated in the recovery group for the "Sigma Seven" space flight. Later that same month his ship joined a special A.S.W. (anti-submarine warfare) group as the Cuban missile crisis came to a head. Then during early April 1963, his ship helped in the search-and-rescue attempt prompted by the loss of the submarine S.S.N. Threasher.

After leaving the Navy he returned to school and received his degrees in engineering. Then, taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, he went on to graduate from Fitchburg University. While a student at the University he worked as an instructor at the Greendale Y.M.C.A. and as an instructor for the Worcester County Association for the Blind.

In the summer of 1967, he married his grade school classmate Jeanne Englund and moved to the town of Princeton where they bought and restored the original ski lodge on Wachusett mountain. At that time, he accepted a full-time teaching position at his old alma mater, W.B.H.S. He often joked that in his 1958 yearbook it was written, "He leaves without a backward glance". In 1998 he retired after teaching for 30 years - taking great pride in contradicting his class prophecy. While living in Princeton he joined the police department as a patrolman and at that time built and operated a small printing business named Timberline Graphics. He also owned and restored many old collector cars and over the years acquired many trophies and awards.

Jerry was a 32nd degree Mason and a 51-year member of the Rufus Putnam Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Rutland, MA.

He leaves his wife Jeanne L. (Englund) Silven, his daughter Jodi T. (Silven) Sarkisian and his son Jason W. Silven, all of Princeton. He also leaves his loving granddaughter MacKenzie R. Sarkisian and his talented and gifted grandson, Casey J. Sarkisian.

In lieu of flowers Jerry requests that anyone wishing to honor his memory consider a donation to the Shriner's Hospital 2900 Rocky Point Drive Tampa, FL 33607 or online at https://lovetotherescue.org/donate/, or St. Jude’s Children's Hospital P.O. Box 1999, Memphis, TN 38101, or https://www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html.

Services will be held privately for the family. Callahan, Fay and Caswell Life Celebration Home is honored to be assisting the family.