'Papa' Joe named parade grand marshal
by Lenny Roberts

For his long and distinguished history of volunteering for the community, "Papa" Joe Silvestri has been named grand marshal of the 2002 Ojai Independence Day parade.
Each year, the Ojai Independence Day Committee selects the person it believes has unassumingly contributed to the community with little or no praise, according to board member Pat Bushman-Nelles.
Silvestri was born and raised in Ojai, served in the military, and came home to marry and raise five children. He owns Silvestri Construction, which has been contracted to do many local projects. On many of the jobs for his church, schools and other nonprofit organizations, Bushman-Nelles noted that he only charges for the materials and pays for the labor himself.
"Few have been aware that he is such a generous and helpful citizen," she said. "There is so much that can be told about Joe that it will be difficult to condense this information into a news release.
"Every Fourth of July, you will see two of Joe's trucks in the parade as a float donated to help celebrate. For the last six years, his workers have supplied the security for the Optimist Club and Ojai Beauty Pageant, and he has been chief cook and bottle washer at St. Joseph's annual fund-raising barbecue for several years."
At the annual Silvestri Construction Christmas party, the rule is that employees must bring toys or food, which is then given to needy Ojai Valley families. Always a sports fan, Silvestri Construction has sponsored numerous teams over the years, and typically donates uniforms for Little League, softball, basketball and soccer teams. He also has been involved in 4H for many years, lending his property to any young person who does not have a place to keep their animals. Whatever doesn't sell at the Ventura County Fair, he buys so that no kid feels left out, according to Bushman-Nelles. He also pays his workers to keep the grounds clean at his church, St. Thomas Aquinas, and is a staunch supporter of ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, to which he lost a daughter in 1994.
"The last year has been a challenge to all, and it has made us realize how important family and friends are to life," Bushman-Nelles said. "Joe Silvestri is a good family man who never tires of giving to this community, and has never been recognized for being the true hero that he is to family, church, friends and community."

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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