SILVESTRI

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 05:04:16 :

Independent Journal
Saturday, December 20, 1980

GEORGE J. SILVESTRI Sr.

Sonoma – George J. Silvestri Sr., retired president of Marin Products Co., a wholesale frozen food distributorship in Ignacio, died Friday in his sleep at his home in Sonoma.

Silvestri, 69, had been a longtime resident of San Rafael until his retirement two yeas ago.

Silvestri was recognized as a pioneer in frozen food sales, served as president of the National Frozen Food Association and was a member of the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats, known as the Phi Beta Kappa of the frozen food industry.

He also was active in civic affairs and in 1978 was named Marian’s Italian-American Citizen of the Year at the annual Marin County Columbus Day celebration.

At that presentation Silvestri was recognized for his devotion to family, church and country.

He was a native of San Francisco, whose parents emigrated there from Lucca, Italy, at the turn of the century.

During his boyhood he worked at his father’s fruit and vegetable store, Belmont Market in San Francisco, then as a cabinetmaker and as a salesman and buyer for several firms in the old San Francisco produce market.

Silvestri served as a lieutenant in the Coast Guard during World War II. After the war, he moved to Marin and started a wholesale produce business at Second and A streets in San Rafael, which grew to include frozen food sales.

He was a director of Frosty Acres Brands, a national cooperative of food distributors for 16 years.

Marin Products, known for its Frosty Acres line, moved from San Rafael to Ignacio in 1963.

Silvestri was a charter member and past president of the San Rafael Kiwanis Club, president of the Marin chapter of the National Council of Catholic Men in 1955, charter member and past president of the Serra Club of Marin and past president of Salesian Council 565, Young Men’s Institute and a member of the council for more than 50 years. He was a member of San Rafael Elks Lodge 1108. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association, a member of the Tamalpais Revolver Club and active in the club’s supervision of the San Rafael police pistol range. He was an avid duck hunter and member of Ducks Unlimited.

Silvestri served on the Marin County Grand Jury and was chairman of its law enforcement committee. He was a founding committeeman and Post Explorer adviser for Boy Scout Troop 57 in San Rafael.

He also was a member of the Northern California Grocers Association.

Surviving are his wife, Ramona S. Silvestri of Sonoma; three sons, George J. Silvestri Jr. of Novato, Frank P. Silvestri of Petaluma and James M. Silvestri of El Verano; a brother, Guy L. Silvestri of Cupertino; and four grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at St.Raphael’s Church, San Rafael. The rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Sunday at the church.

At the time of his death Silvestri was helping to raise funds for the victims of the recent earthquake in Italy. The family preferred memorial contributions to be made to Italian Earthquake Fund, 950 Northgate Drive, Suite 303, San Rafael, 94903, or flowers.