Norbert “Bert” Silva passed away on Feb. 7, 2008, after a brief illness.
He was 75.
Bert was born in 1932 on Pico Island, Azores, Portugal. He came to the United States in 1948, at the age of 15. Today, his name can be found on the immigrant wall at Ellis Island. He settled in Point Loma where he started his 60-year career as a commercial tuna fisherman. He later became an engineer and worked on many tuna seiners, traveling throughout the world.
Bert began his career when tuna was caught using bamboo poles off the side of the boat. By the time he retired, the industry had advanced to purse-seine tuna fishing, first developed by his uncle, Joseph Medina. He was a mentor to many young men in the industry, including his friend, Joe Varley, of Point Loma. He was married to Elsie Silva (now deceased) for 36 years and raised three children in Point Loma.
His travels eventually took him to American Samoa, where he met his current wife, Molia, raised two sons in the village of Lauli’i and lived for the last 25 years. He was a beloved member of the village.
He remained a die-hard San Diego Chargers fan, right through last month’s game with the New England Patriots.
Bert is survived by his loving wife, Molia; children Steven and Anne of San Diego, Robert (Pata) of Las Vegas, David and James Steven of Lauli’i, American Samoa; mother Amelia Furtado Da Silva of San Diego and Portugal; sisters Lucille Castaneda (Pete) of Temecula and Fatima Williams of San Diego; six nieces and nephews, Michael Castaneda (Tracy), Carol Beatty (Jim, godchild), Gary Castaneda (Theresa), Lisa Williams (Bobby), James Williams (godchild) and Amelia Williams and godchild Claudina Neves of Sacramento; six grandchildren, 11 great-nieces and nephews and two great-great nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joe (Mafalda), of Mountain View.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s by the Sea Lutheran Church, 1371 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., in Ocean Beach. Following the San Diego service, burial will take place in the family cemetery of his wife’s ancestral homeland on the island of Savai’i, Samoa.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Portuguese Historical Center, P.O. Box 60749, San Diego, 92166.