Family/Spouse: VITELLO, Sam. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

June 19, 2012
Robert W. Silsby

Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

KENMORE — The retired history department chairman at Kenmore West High School, died on Saturday in Kenmore Mercy Hospital, following a short illness. The Kenmore resident was 91. Born in Lockport, NY, on April 9, 1921, son of the late Charles Warren Silsby and Ada (Swift) Silsby.

Dr. Silsby attended Middleport Public Schools graduating from Middleport High School as Valedictorian in 1939. He received his Bachelor's Degree in 1943 Summa Cum Laude, and his Master's Degree in 1948 from Hobart College. He was awarded his Ph.D. in History from Cornell University in 1958. Dr. Silsby was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He was commissioned in the United States Navy serving in the Mediterranean from 1944 to 1946. After his military discharge, he taught History at Hobart College 1946 to 1952, The Parks School of Buffalo 1952 & 1953, West Seneca Central School 1953 & 1954, and Kenmore West High School 1954 to 1990. In addition, during his tenure at Kenmore West, he was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Buffalo.

Dr. Silsby's tenure at Kenmore West was highlighted by the introduction of Social Studies subjects Psychology, Philosophy and Economics. He supervised one of the largest Social Studies Departments in New York State. Dr. Silsby authored a History of the Town of Tonawanda, Settlement to Suburb; 1607-1986, at the age of 70. He also authored a number of book reviews and pamphlets. For a number of years, he was also a chief researcher for the Seneca Indian Nation. He provided expert testimony regarding land claims. He was President of the Lake Erie Council of Social Studies and the New York State Council of Social Studies. He was chief Grievance Officer of the Ken-Ton Teachers Association. Also a member of the National Council of Social Studies. He received the outstanding Teachers Award from the University of Chicago in 1983. He was awarded the highest honor of the Social Studies Council of the Niagara Frontier in 1988. For more than 20 years he and his wife, Katherine, were volunteers at the American Red Cross, He was a lifelong blood donor and a volunteer with the Ken-Ton Historical Society, assisting in the development of the local history museum. Dr. Silsby and his wife traveled extensively abroad. They were lovers of the outdoors. Many of their vacations were spent camping and exploring nature. They expressed their love of music be being season ticket holders for the Buffalo Philharmonic. After his retirement, he was inducted into the "Corridor of Honor" at Kenmore West.

He was predeceased in May by his wife of 69 years, the former Katherine Irene White; and a brother, John Silsby. He is survived by his four children, John (Robin) Silsby of Connecticut, Mary (Sam) Vitello of Lockport, Susan Hedges of Middleport and Kenmore and Charles (Geneva) Silsby of Lockport; 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call on Thursday from 7-9 PM at the Bates, Wallace & Heath Funeral Home, 38 State St., Middleport, where funeral services will be held on Friday at 11:00 AM. Burial will be in Hartland Central Cemetery. Memorials to the American Red Cross would be appreciated by the Silsby family. A Memorial Service is being planned in the near future in the Kenmore area.

Visit www.bateswallace.com to sign guest register.

Robert married WHITE, Katherine I on 26 Jun 1943 in Middleport, Niagara County, NY. Katherine (daughter of WHITE, Thomas F and ZENT, Carrie) was born on 16 Sep 1921 in Middleport, Niagara County, NY; died on 2 May 2012 in Kenmore, Erie County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

May 3, 2012
Katherine I. Silsby

Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

KENMORE — Katherine I. Silsby, of Kenmore, New York, passed away on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at her home. Mrs. Silsby was born in Middleport, NY, on September 16, 1921 daughter of the late Thomas and Carrie (Zent) White. She and her husband, Robert W. Silsby, were married on June 26, 1943 and she has lived in Kenmore since 1952.

Mrs. Silsby was employed by the Kenmore School System as a teacher's aide retiring in 1990 after 23 years of service. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Church in Kenmore, and was a member of the Neuman Guild of the church and she was also a member of the Erie County Red Cross. She enjoyed her family, traveling and she enjoyed knitting hats for charity and she distributed them around the world. On Mrs. Silsby's 75th birthday she and her husband, Robert, traveled to Moscow; on her 76th birthday they traveled to Bejing, China and on their 55th Wedding Anniversary they went on a walking tour of Tuscany, traveling 10 miles a day.

She was predeceased by her siblings, Betty Holahan, Margaret Bixler, Frank White and Grace Schiffert. She is survived by her husband, Robert W. Silsby; four children, John (Robin) Silsby of Connecticut, Mary (Sam) Vitello of Lockport, Susan Hedges of Middleport and Kenmore and Charles (Geneva) Silsby of Lockport; 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

There will be no prior visitation. Friends and relatives are invited to attend her funeral service on Monday at 11:00 AM at Holy Trinity Parish/St. Stephen's Church, 21 Vernon Street, Middleport, NY, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Daniel J. Fawls. Burial will be in Hartland Central Cemetery. Memorials to the American Red Cross would be appreciated by the family.

Visit www.bateswallace.com to sign guest register.

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 6/30/1943

MIDDLEPORT. N. Y.-Miss Katherine
T. White, daughter of Thomas
F White, of Mill street, became the
bride of Robert W. Silsby, son of
Mr. and Mrs. C. Warren Silsby. of
Johnson Creek. Saturday morning.
June 26. The Rev. John C. Cox per-
formed the ceremony at 10 o'clock
in the rectory of St. Stephen's
church.
The bride Wore a white point
disprit floor length gown fashioned
with sweetheart neckline, three
qua; ter sleeves and a shoulderlength
halo veil She wore a single
strand pearl necklace and her flowers
were white roses and fever few.
Miss Margaret White. Middleport.
sister of the bride, was maid of
honor and wore pale blue marcuisette
marie with long full skirt and
bishop sleeves. she wore a match-
ing color shoulder veil and her
flowers were of pink roses, yellow
daisies and white fever few. Pfc.
Frank P. White, brother of the
bride, acted as best man.
Mrs Silsby. mother of the groom,
wore a flowered chiffon with white
accessories. Her corsage was of gardenias
At noon a wedding breakfast was
held for the immediate families at
Maple Crest Inn, Medina, with cov-
ers laid for 12. From 2 to 4 o'clock
a reception was held for 60 guests
at the bride's home which was dec-
orated throughout with pink roses.
Mr. and Mrs. Silsby left for ft
wedding trip, the bride traveling in
an aquamarine Jersey dress with
white hat and shoes.

Charles + SWIFT, Ada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 3/30/1962

MIDDLEPORT -A retired
farmer, Thomas F. White, 84,
died Thursday (March 29,
1962) at the home of his son,
Frank P. White, 24 Park Ave.
Mr. ^ White was born Aug.
15, 1877, in Ireland, son of
Thomas W. and Johannah
Callahan White, and came to
this county when he was a
child. He was a« member of
St. Stephen's Church.
Surviving besides his son
are four daughters, Mrs. Donald
Bixler, Mrs. William
Hol*an, both of Middleport,
Mrs. Roger Schiffert of Lockport
and Mrs. Robert Silsby
of Kenmore; two brothers,
Patrick White of Middleport
and Robert White of Kenmore;
two sisters, Mrs. John
Whalen of Lockport and Mrs.
Elmer Vary of Middleport;
10 grandchildren and several
nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 3-5
and 7-9 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday at Wallace and Heath
Funeral Home where services
will be conducted at 9:30
ajn. Monday and at 10
o'clock at St. S t e p h e n 's
Church by Rev. William J.
Donnelly. Burial will be in
St. Stephen's Cemetery. The
Rosary will be recited at 8
p.m. Saturday at the funeral
home.

Thomas + ZENT, Carrie. Carrie (daughter of ZENT, Franklin S and ELEY, Mary Jane) was born in Aug 1887 in Erie County, NY; died on 8 Jun 1928 in Medina, Orleans County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 6/9/1928

MIDDLEPORT, June 9.-Carrie White
aged 41 years, wife of Thomas White of
the Sherman road died Friday in the
Medina Memorial Hospital. Besides her
husband she is survived by five children
at home, her father Frank S. Zent
of Wllllamsville, three sisters, Mrs.
George Sherman of the Settlement road.
Mrs. Ellas Shlesley and Mrs. Merton
Degan of Williamsville, two brothers,
Wayne Zent of Troy and Robert Zent
of Lockport, Mrs. White was born In
Williamsville and has resided in this
locality for about eighteen years.

Thomas + CALLAHAN, Johannah. Johannah was born about 1852 in Irish Free State; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Franklin married ELEY, Mary Jane in Aug 1873. Mary (daughter of ELEY, John and STALEY, Susannah) was born in Jan 1854 in Erie County, NY; died between 1920 and 1930 in New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1910 census lists her with husband and 2 children in Royalton - having had 8 children all alive
1920 census lists her with husband, 2 children and 1 grandchild - Harold W Schaefer - age 11
1930 census lists her husband as a widow living with Ida Shiesley (daughter) in Amherst