Steven Silpe

Steven A. Silpe
1937 - 2024
Steve A Silpe, 86 died peacefully in Clermont Florida on September 6th. Steve was born in Springfield MA, son of Diane Silverman and Hyman Silpe, on December 4, 1937. He graduated from Tech High school in 1955 then served in the US Navy 4 years active duty and 4 years in Reserve. He served on the USS Forestall air craft carrier and the USS Saratoga spending time in the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic. Steve also served in the Air national guard for 27 years at Barnes Air Force base in Westfield MA retiring in 1997.
Steve attended University of Hartford, Ward School of electronics completing a program as an Engineering technician in 1962. In 1981 he graduated from Springfield Technical Community College with a degree in Fire science and electronic engineering. Steve's love for working with electronics led to employment. He worked fixing televisions when they had tubes and fixing calculators when they were larger than a computer paper box.
Steve worked for the Springfield Fire department from 1970-2001. He published a newsletter for the department for several years. He drove a school bus as a part time job for many years, many times taking groups of students or adults on field trips.
He met his first wife Diane (of 23 years) and started a family of 4 beautiful girls. When his girls were growing up he enjoyed camping, boating playing board games and doing large jigsaw puzzles. He was a Ham radio operator as a hobby (call letters KA1ACF) and even tried to teach his daughters Morse code.
Steve later reconnected with Rosalind Raiffe Silpe who he met during his teanage years. On August 28, 1994 he married her. They recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary.
Upon his retirement in December of 2001, Steve and Rosalind moved to Kings Ridge in Clermont Florida where he was involved with community theatrical productions. In 2003 he was one of the founders of Congregation Sinai and published a newsletter for many years.
He was a past member of the Temple Beth El brotherhood. He was a Melha Shriner, and participated in many parades and fundraising events for the organization.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Rosalind Raiffe Silpe from Colonia NJ. He leaves his daughters Robin Silpe- Morel and her husband Michael of Longmeadow MA, Marla Silpe-Smith of Agawam MA, Karen McGuire and her husband Scott of Somers CT his stepdaughter Jodi Torres of Oakhurst, NJ and 9 loving grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his daughter Julie Sharpy of East Longmeadow MA and stepson Jeffrey Goldberg of Colonia NJ.
Funeral services will be held at Ascher-Zimmerman Funeral Home in Springfield on September 12 at 9:30am. Burial will be at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, MA at 11:00am. Shiva services will be at the home of Robin and Michael Morel at 57 Merriweather Drive in Longmeadow MA on Thursday, September 12th at 7pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Congregation Sinai at 1200 West Broad St. Groveland FL 34736 or Temple Beth El at 979 Dickinson St. Springfield MA 01118.