Robert Teall Silver died on March 29, 2025, from complications of Parkinson’s disease, with which he had lived for 23 years.
Born in Vermont in 1949, Bob spent his youth in the New Haven, Connecticut, area before heading to Denver, where he completed his alternative service as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, working as a hospital orderly. He subsequently moved to Oregon, where he worked in the construction trades. In 1976 Bob returned to New England and settled in Boston. Working his way through college, Bob graduated from Northeastern University in 1982 with a bachelor’s in electrical engineering. Following a 20-year career as a computer engineer at Digital Equipment Corp., he worked as a technical writer at Mathworks for 10 years before his advancing illness necessitated early retirement.
Bob was a kind, even-tempered man who changed the oil in the family cars; performed a multitude of handyman jobs using the extensive tool collection handed down by his father and grandfather; read to his beloved sons every night at bedtime; explained tasks with a detailed precision that sometimes exasperated his family; delighted in the canine companionship of his easygoing Newfoundland Milo and energetic English springer spaniel Oscar; played guitar, bass, and drums; gathered an extensive collection of vinyl focused on rock and blues music of the ’60s and ’70s; traveled with curiosity (except when it came to food); created an elaborate, eagerly anticipated Christmas morning treasure hunt; and enjoyed watching the sunset from the porch of the Silver Cottage on Bustins Island, Maine, cold beer in hand, surrounded by cousins.
A 35-year resident of Concord, Bob is survived by his wife of 44 years, Karen Guffey Silver; his sons, Christopher Silver and wife Ratha Silver of Nashua, New Hampshire, and Colby Silver of Brooklyn, New York; cherished granddaughters Syvilai and Sophia; his brother Arthur Silver and wife Joan Coryat of Williamsburg; and niece Corinne Coryat of Deerfield.
While his body and mind were ultimately broken by the ravages of Parkinson’s disease, Bob’s heart was ever strong and always loving.
His ashes will be inurned at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be announced at a later date.
