Captain Edward J. Silva, Jr., former President and Chief Harbor Pilot for the Port of San Diego Pilots, passed away on December 29, 2007 in the company of his wife and children at his home in Rancho Bernardo. Captain Silva was born on July 31, 1934 in the New England seaport of Gloucester, Massachusetts.

He continued the Silva family seagoing tradition by attending Maine Maritime Academy (MMA), where he served as bandmaster, led the orchestra during training cruise dances, held the rank of company commander, and was a member of both the Propeller Club and Yearbook staff. In his senior year, Captain Silva was presented with the MMA Alumni Association award given each year to the midshipman who contributed the most to his class and the Academy. Upon graduation in 1957, he earned a Bachelor of Marine Science Degree as a Deck Officer as well as a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. During Captain Silva's merchant marine career, he completed 15 complete circumnavigations of the world as an officer and captain aboard vessels of American Export Lines while calling upon 26 countries and 29 foreign ports. As his maritime career progressed, Captain Silva received licenses as both a Master of Unlimited Steam & Motor Vessels and Unlimited Sail of any gross tons on the open ocean and spent eight years as a Senior Pilot for the Panama Canal Company. For the next 26 years, Captain Silva served as President and Senior Pilot in the San Diego Harbor, piloting more than 9,800 vessel movements in all weather conditions without incident.

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Source:
San Diego Union-Tribune on January 3, 2008