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Joseph Leopold Silhavy, 80, Retired Easton Police Sergeant

EASTON, Conn. -- Joseph Leopold Silhavy, a retired Easton police sergeant, died Wednesday, Aug. 5, at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport. He was 80.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Silhavy was born in Bridgeport on March 20, 1935, to the late Joseph and Susan (Bendik) Silhavy.

He attended Samuel Staples Elementary School in Easton and the Bullard-Havens Technical High School in Bridgeport. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1953 and served during the Korean War.

After he was honorably discharged and returned home, he became a full-time firefighter in Easton from 1957 to 1963, when he switched careers and joined the Easton Police Department.

After he retired in 1987, he joined People’s Bank as a credit card fraud investigator.

He was president of the International Association of Credit Card Fraud Investigators. He also served as selectman in Easton, chairman of the Easton Park and Recreation Department, constable, and  justice of the peace.

Silhavy was a member of the Samuel Staples School Building Committee and the board of directors of the Bridgeport Symphony Youth Orchestra. He was chairman of the Easton Day Committee, and helped organized antique shows for the Easton Exchange Club.

In 1958, he became a member of Ashlar-Aspetuck Masonic Lodge 142 in Easton. He was elected master in 1988.

A member of Salem Lutheran Church in Bridgeport, Silhavy served on the church’s council and building committees.

Silhavy was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Ann (Anderson). 

He is survived by his sons, Joseph Silhavy, and his wife Jan, of Reisterstown, Md.; Darrin Silhavy, and his wife Donna, of Easton; and grandchildren, Rachel Silhavy and Alexis Silhavy, of Reisterstown, Md., and T.J. Silhavy and Jenna Silhavy, of Easton.

He was predeceased by his sisters, Mildred Raytar, Eleanor Ahlberg, and Evelyn Nicholas. 

Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at Larson Funeral Home, 2496 North Ave., Bridgeport.

Funeral services will take place 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 14, at Salem Lutheran Church, 3160 Park Ave., Bridgeport. Burial will follow at the Union Cemetery, 850 Sport Hill Road, Easton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Pyramid Shriners No. 9 “Crash Cart Fund,” 2428 Main St., Stratford, CT 06615; Salem Lutheran Church, 3160 Park Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604; or the Scottish Rite Children’s Dyslexia Center of Connecticut Inc., 529 Highland Ave., Waterbury, CT 06708.

 

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