1929
Arthur
2016
Arthur T. Silk
March 7, 1929 — April 22, 2016
Watertown – Mr. Arthur T. Silk, of Watertown, formerly of Dennis and Waltham, died Friday, April 22, 2016, at his home. He was 87.
Arthur was born in Boston, a son of the late Arthur and Mary (Mullen) Silk and was raised in West Roxbury. He graduated from Boston Latin School in 1947 and from Boston College in 1951. Two years later he earned a master's degree from Harvard Business School.
After business school, he joined the United States Navy where he served as an officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CVA-9) during the Korean War. When his active service was over, Arthur remained a member of the United States Navy Reserve. He retired as a captain after a twenty-nine-year career.
In August 1954, Arthur married Mission Hill native Mildred T. McElroy in Mission Church. They moved to Waltham, where they raised their family and were active members of St. Jude Parish. In 1993 they retired to their home on the Cape. The couple enjoyed sixty happy years together until Millie's death on February 7, 2015.
Arthur worked as a logistics specialist for several area industries, specializing in product warehousing, traffic and transportation. He helped to revolutionize the way products were brought to market for companies as diverse as Stop & Shop, Converse (footwear), and several local electronics distributors. He also ran his own consulting firm, Distribution Assistance, and served as an expert witness in the field.
Arthur was an active member of the Navy Supply Corps Association and the Harvard Business School Alumni Association.
Arthur and Millie enjoyed traveling to Ireland, Barbados, Florida, Hawaii and the West Coast. He helped her to maintain a beautiful garden and landscape at their home and always enjoyed visits with his grandchildren.
Arthur leaves his children, Arthur T. Silk, Jr. and his partner, Patricia Burns, of Boston, John M. Silk and his wife, Nancy, of Bainbridge Island, Washington, Patricia Silk and her husband, Michael Kloess, of Berkley, California, William J. Silk and his wife, Barbara, of Stamford, Connecticut, Ann Silk of East Dennis and Michael T. Silk and his wife, Eileen, of Holliston; his grandchildren, Lauren and Brendan Silk, Caitlin Kloess, William, Ryan, Caroline, Keegan and Riley Silk; his brother, Robert A. Silk and his wife, Dorothea of Norwood and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Arthur's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham, on Wednesday, April 27, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, on Friday morning at 10:15 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to YMCA Cape Cod/Parkinson Support Network, 2245 Route 132, West Barnstable, MA 02668, or to the charity of your choice.
Arthur was born in Boston, a son of the late Arthur and Mary (Mullen) Silk and was raised in West Roxbury. He graduated from Boston Latin School in 1947 and from Boston College in 1951. Two years later he earned a master's degree from Harvard Business School.
After business school, he joined the United States Navy where he served as an officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CVA-9) during the Korean War. When his active service was over, Arthur remained a member of the United States Navy Reserve. He retired as a captain after a twenty-nine-year career.
In August 1954, Arthur married Mission Hill native Mildred T. McElroy in Mission Church. They moved to Waltham, where they raised their family and were active members of St. Jude Parish. In 1993 they retired to their home on the Cape. The couple enjoyed sixty happy years together until Millie's death on February 7, 2015.
Arthur worked as a logistics specialist for several area industries, specializing in product warehousing, traffic and transportation. He helped to revolutionize the way products were brought to market for companies as diverse as Stop & Shop, Converse (footwear), and several local electronics distributors. He also ran his own consulting firm, Distribution Assistance, and served as an expert witness in the field.
Arthur was an active member of the Navy Supply Corps Association and the Harvard Business School Alumni Association.
Arthur and Millie enjoyed traveling to Ireland, Barbados, Florida, Hawaii and the West Coast. He helped her to maintain a beautiful garden and landscape at their home and always enjoyed visits with his grandchildren.
Arthur leaves his children, Arthur T. Silk, Jr. and his partner, Patricia Burns, of Boston, John M. Silk and his wife, Nancy, of Bainbridge Island, Washington, Patricia Silk and her husband, Michael Kloess, of Berkley, California, William J. Silk and his wife, Barbara, of Stamford, Connecticut, Ann Silk of East Dennis and Michael T. Silk and his wife, Eileen, of Holliston; his grandchildren, Lauren and Brendan Silk, Caitlin Kloess, William, Ryan, Caroline, Keegan and Riley Silk; his brother, Robert A. Silk and his wife, Dorothea of Norwood and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Arthur's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham, on Wednesday, April 27, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, on Friday morning at 10:15 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to YMCA Cape Cod/Parkinson Support Network, 2245 Route 132, West Barnstable, MA 02668, or to the charity of your choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Arthur T. Silk, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors