Franklin
“Frank” Silfies, Sr., 71, of Ascutney Street in Windsor, VT died on
Tuesday, February 17, 2015 following a five-year battle with cancer.
He was
born June 3, 1943, in Northampton, Pennsylvania, the son of Franklin H.
and Salome (Keefer) Silfies.
Frank graduated from Norwich University in 1965 with a BA in English.
He was
Program Coordinator for Crisis Services at HCRS in Springfield, VT where
he had worked for 35 years.
Frank was a member
of the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department where he served as President
for several years. He also served
as a part-time member of the Weathersfield Police Department and was
director of the Weathersfield Ambulance Service.
Well
known to First Responders in Vermont and New Hampshire, Frank founded
the Green Mountain Critical Incident Stress Management team.
He was a core faculty member of the On-Site Academy in Worcester,
MA, is a Level Two member of the International Critical Incident Stress
Foundation and an ICISF-approved trainer and serves as a civilian
advisor to the Vermont State Police Membership Assistance Program.
One of his favorite things was volunteering every year as an
instructor at the North Country Fire School in Alburgh, Vt.
He was a
remarkable man; brilliant, compassionate, generous, humble, and a
passionate observer of the human condition.
Frank was
a man who loved his God, his family and his country – in that order.
He was a recent member of the Greater Hartford United Church of
Christ, but had been a 40+ year member of Ascutney Union Church.
His
family includes his wife of 51 years, SallyAnn, one son, Christopher of
Charlestown and his best friend Carol Goodwin; one daughter, Wendi and
her husband Todd Curtis of Claremont; four grandsons, Cody Silfies of
Burlington; Craig Curtis of Claremont; Randy Curtis of Springfield; and
Noah Curtis of Claremont; three granddaughters, Taylor Silfies and
Kelsey Silfies of Virginia Beach, VA and Zoë Curtis of Claremont; and
one great-grandson, Kobie Curtis of Claremont and Shelby Packard-Lowery
of Charlestown who considered him to be her second dad.
He was predeceased by his brother William; his oldest son, Frank
Silfies, Jr. and his beloved granddaughter, Scotlynn Silfies.
A
Celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, February 28 at 11:00
a.m. at the Greater Hartford United Church of Christ on Route 14 in
Hartford Village. Hospice
Chaplain Constance Moser will officiate.
Visiting hours will be held at the Church from 5 to 7pm Friday evening
February 27th