Robert Joseph Silva
Former nuclear chemist Robert Joseph Silva died Sept. 3.
He was 84.
Born on Feb. 16, 1927, in Oakland, Calif., to Dorothy Lurinda and Joseph Stanley Silva, he graduated from San Leandro High School. From 1945 to 1946, he served as Radioman Third Class in the United States Navy Reserve on the USS Fixity of the Pacific Fleet.
He received a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Oregon, Eugene, and a Ph.D. in 1959 from the University of California, Berkeley.
He worked at Oak Ridge, Lawrence Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories.
Silva was an accomplished, internationally recognized nuclear chemist. He is best known for his studies of the chemical properties of the transfermium elements, using computer-controlled automated fast chemistry systems, one atom at a time.
In particular, his contribution finalized the 20-year ongoing research and confirmation of Nobel Laureate Glenn T. Seaborg's prediction that Element 103, Lawrencium, would be the last element in a new actinide series of the periodic table of the elements.
Silva enjoyed teaching nuclear and radiochemistry and was awarded a guest professorship in 1973-74 by becoming the Fritz Strassman chair of nNuclear chemistry at the University of Mainz, Germany, to conduct research and lectures on the decay of short-lived radionuclides.
He also established research in support of the safe disposal of high-level nuclear waste by experimentally developing the thermodynamic database to predict the migration rates of actinides in the environment.
Silva was an adjunct professor of chemistry at San Jose State University, where he was the academic director and chief instructor for the American Chemical Society Summer School in Nuclear and Radiochemistry. In 1987, he became a co-founder of the International Conference on the Chemistry and Migration Behaviour of Actinides and Fission Products in the Geosphere.
He enjoyed golfing, skiing, fishing, flying, astronomy and rock climbing, among many other interests.
Silva is survived by Crystal whom he married in 1983; his three children and their spouses, Diane ("Annie") and Doug Silveria; Robert J. L. and Mary Judith Silva; and Gregory Richard and Deborah Silva; five grandchildren and their spouses, John Silveria, Caitlin Silveria, Bob and Kristi Silva, Jessica and Charles Hotchkiss, and Gregory Silva; one great-grandchild, Hope Silva; and numerous other relatives and friends. He also is survived by his former wife, Joan Yvonne Kniseley of Tennessee.
A viewing will be held Saturday, Sept. 10 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Oak Hill Funeral Home's Chapel of Roses, 300 Curtner Ave., San Jose. The funeral will commence at 6 p.m. Private interment will be held at the Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward, Calif., on Sunday, Sept. 11.
In lieu of other remembrances, donations may be made in Silva's name to Calaveras Humane Society, P. O. Box 2065, San Andreas, CA 95249.
