Navy Veteran Frank Silva Pledges 10% of Estate to Franciscans
Frank Silva serving in Vietnam in the early 1970's
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas... Not as far as Las Vegas resident Frank Silva is concerned.
~
The retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer, who has lived in Las Vegas for the past 24 years, is not sure how an appeal from the Province of St. John the Baptist made it to his mailbox 15 years ago. But he is quite willing to share that it had its desired effect, and why.
Frank Silva today in Las Vegas
The appeal rekindled his childhood appreciation for the work and humility of the Friars. He became both an annual contributor to the Province and a legacy donor; he now plans to leave 10% of his estate to the Province through his Will.
“My grandmother belonged to Holy Family Parish in Albuquerque, where I grew up,” he said. “It was part of the Province of St. John the Baptist at the time. Francis was my baptismal name, and St. Francis was my patron saint, so I always had a devotion to him. As a kid, I admired the friars. When I got that first request I thought, ‘Let’s do this.’”
He likes that the Franciscans help poor people, providing them with education, food and shelter. “The money goes directly to people in need,” he continued. “And the Franciscans show so much humility. That’s important to me.”
Another formative influence on Silva was the U.S. Navy. He enlisted when he was eighteen. “I joined the Navy because I didn’t want to go to Vietnam. The funny thing is, after my first duty assignment and “A” school [which teaches you the skills you need to do your job], they sent me to the Mekong River to repair river boats for a year. I grew up really fast.”
Frank's beloved dog Spike
After Vietnam, he was home ported on the East Coast, including Boston and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, in Norfolk. “I saw the world before I was twenty-three,” Silva said. After active duty, Silva spent 20 years in the Navy Reserve.
He credits his Navy training for jumpstarting his civilian career. Two years after joining Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) in 1974 as an apprentice, the superintendent of System Operations offered him a position as a System Operator, “I told him there were other apprentices years ahead of me and that journeymen wouldn’t be happy. He said the reason he picked me was because I was Navy trained. I will never forget that. I can’t say enough about my experience with the Navy and what it did for me.” After 11 years with PNM he worked for Arizona Public Service, Plains Electric G&T and on to Nevada Power Co. (NV Energy) where he retired after 17 years.
He enjoys walking his little dog Spike and his hobbies… He plays softball twice a week year round, running model trains (N-Scale), yard work and reading.
If you would like to learn more about leaving the Franciscans in your estate plans visit our Leave a Legacy page. Contact Friar Works Co-Director Colleen Cushard at ccushard@franciscan.org or call her at 513-721-4700 ext 3219.
Posted in: Missions, Newsletter, Prayer, Saint Francis
