Christopher William Silva

Christopher W. Silva, 52, President & CEO of St. Francis Winery, died peacefully with his family by his side after a courageous battle with brain cancer

Chris was born on July 8, 1964 as a fifth-generation Petaluman to Alvin “Al” and Dorothy (Cassina) Silva.  Their young family was joined four years later with the birth of Jeffrey.  Chris and Jeff grew up in Santa Rosa and were forever their mother’s pride and joy.  As siblings, they laughed, joked, rough-housed, and excelled.

A graduate of Proctor Terrace Elementary School and Santa Rosa Middle School, Chris went onto Cardinal Newman High School, elected as a beloved and unforgettable student body president, and worked as checker-extraordinaire at Petrini’s Market.

After high school, Chris attended  Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, once again elected student body president , and then studied abroad at Loyola Rome his senior year.  From there, Chris attended Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, and in 1989, at age 25, was admitted to practice law.

While a true City of Angels devotee, savoring such old-school haunts as The Pantry, Tommy’s Burgers, and Dan Tana’s, after three years of practicing law in Los Angeles, Chris returned home to his beloved Sonoma County.  For the next several years, Chris made his mark as a civil trial lawyer at the law firms of Clement, Fitzpatrick & Kenworthy, and Lanahan & Riley.

Though Chris seemed destined for a distinguished legal career, St. Francis Winery founder Joseph Martin saw great things in his then grandson-in-law, hiring him as Marketing Manager for the storied winery, and though it would change ownership, Chris was propelled to the top post of President & CEO in 2003. He flourished as leader of the winery and became ever more active in philanthropic activities, to include serving as Chair of the Board for Memorial Hospital (whose doctors, nurses and staff provided extraordinary care these past weeks) and partnering with SRJC President Frank Chong to establish the annual SRJC Wine Classic in 2014 to raise funds for student scholarships.

While his professional accomplishments were many, they were eclipsed by the arrival of his children Joseph and Sydney in 1997 and 1999. To know Chris was to know of his boundless love for his kids.  He enthused of all of their milestones growing up, large and small, and shared the world with them, from favorite greasy spoons to ventures in far-flung lands. He also loved so very deeply his nieces and nephews, Lauren, Ben, Molly and Ari.

In addition to his son Joseph, 20,and daughter Sydney, 17, of Santa Rosa, Chris also is survived by his father  Al and stepmother Barbara Silva, of Sonoma, his grandmother, Alba Silva, 103, of Petaluma, brother Jeffrey and sister-in-law Stacy Silva, and their children Lauren, Benjamin, Molly and Ari, of Sacramento. He is preceded in death by his beloved mother, Dorothy, her mother and father, Leah Barber Cassina and William S. Cassina, and Al’s father, Russell Silva, all of Petaluma.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Father Denis O’Sullivan and family-friend  Rev. Richard Robin at St. Rose Church, 398 10th St., Santa Rosa, CA, 95401 on Friday, June 30, at 10:00 a.m., with a reception immediately following.  A visitation will be held Thursday evening, June 29, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Parent-Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory, 850 Keokuk St. Petaluma, CA, 94952  Private interment will be held at Cypress Hill Memorial Park , 430 Magnolia Ave., Petaluma, CA, 94952

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the newly-established Christopher Silva Endowment, to benefit Santa Rosa Junior College students.  Gifts can be sent to the SRJC Foundation, 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 95401 or can be made online at santarosa.edu/foundation.

Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory

St. Rose Catholic Church