“We never know how many days we have been given,” said President Del Dreyer in his opening remarks at this week’s Rotary meeting.  “So it’s a good idea to begin a life of service while you’re young.  Josh Silva did just that.”

Sadly, Josh and his 17 year old sister died in a traffic accident on July 2 30 miles north of Willits, California.  Josh is survived by his wife Kira and their unborn child, due in four months; his mother; and a college age sister.  Josh’s father died of cancer a few years ago.

“Josh was an integral part of Rotary’s Nicaragua water well program in 2004 and 2005 — years when we had to demonstrate success, or the project would never have gotten off the ground,” wrote Tom Crozier, liaison on the Nicaraguan water well project for the Ventura East Rotary Club in California, in an email read by President Del.  “Despite his young age, he was an expert driller with a compassionate heart.”

Josh was part of the team that successfully completed the first water well in Pantanal, Pant#1, near Granada in February 2004.  Rotary has since completed nearly 150 wells in communities throughout Nicaragua.

Josh Silva (far right) stands by as Nicaraguan children draw water from a new well.

Said President Del, “His years were too few, but he had a heart for service. What wonderful memories his family will have to remember him by and to pass on.”