Eugene “Gene” Silveria joined his wife, Marilyn, in heaven, two days prior to their 69th wedding anniversary, February 9. A resident of Hayward, Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Gladys Silveria, and his sister, Marjorie L. Smith. He was very proud of, and is survived by, his nine children: Mary (& Frank) Haro of Hayward; Paul Silveria of Vancouver, Washington; Loretta (& Chip) Woolman of Smithfield, Virginia; Claire (& Mark) Duguid of Livermore; Monica (& BJ) Nadon of Tehachapi, California; Elizabeth (& Darryl) Wooldridge of Nampa, Idaho; Kathleen Miller (& Paul Treber) of Nevada City, California; Matthew (& Krista) Silveria of Vallejo, California; and Anthony Silveria of Livermore. Gene had 16 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Gene was born on August 18, 1926 in Oakland, California. As a child of the Great Depression, he learned to make use of what was available, and not to waste anything. He was taught, and in turn instilled in his offspring, that family came first. His example to others of “doing it right the first time” was another.
In February 1944, Gene graduated from Castlemont High School, and went on to take vocational skills training to become a Tool & Die Maker. He began his career at Friden Calculators, then settled in for a long stretch at Monadnock Mills (later Cinch-Monadnock) in San Leandro. He later worked as a Manufacturing Engineer for several different companies, including Ronson Electric, Singer/Friden, Qume Corporation, Xerox, and ultimately Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, retiring in 1992.
Gene was a dedicated family man and faithful servant, volunteering many hours with All Saints Catholic Church of Hayward, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Native Sons of the Golden West. He enjoyed birthday and holiday gatherings, camping vacations to Yosemite and visiting family and friends, which always brought a smile to his face. A natural storyteller, Gene enjoyed regaling his acquaintances with memories of his life and times. His family fondly recall that he could “talk your ear off”. His booming, boisterous voice could announce his arrival before he was seen, and often startled the neighbors.
When not bragging about or talking with his children and grandchildren, Gene spent his retirement in Castro Valley and Hayward, devoting himself to his lovely wife and their frequent chess and pinochle games. After her passing in 2014, his later years were filled with connecting with children and grandchildren, working puzzle books, watching sports on TV, reading his newspaper, and making others smile.
After a private family Mass at Holy Angels Chapel, Eugene will be interred at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
