In Memory of
Joseph J.
Sylvester Sr.
Sylvester Sr.
1929 - 2014
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Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home, LLC
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Obituary for Joseph J. Sylvester Sr.
Joseph J. Sylvester Sr., 85
BOARDMAN – A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, 2014, at St. Charles Borromeo Church with Rev. Philip Rogers officiating, for Joseph J. Sylvester Sr., 85, who passed away peacefully the morning of Aug. 4, at Hospice House with his family by his side.
Joe was born April 3, 1929, in Youngstown, the son of Carl and Anna (Burce) Silvestri.
Joe was a 1948 graduate of East High School and served with the U.S. Army Band during the Korean Conflict. He was employed as a driver with the Renner Brewery Company until 1956. Joe is well-known to many as a prominent residential and commercial builder and developer. His construction career began in 1956, when he partnered with his friend, Nick Jeswald to form Jeswald and Sylvester Construction, building homes for about ten years.
He then ventured out on his own and re-located to Boardman in 1969. He constructed his first commercial office building on West Blvd., near 224 in Boardman. It is at this location that the Joseph Sylvester Construction Company still remains today. Following a trip to Florida in 1981, he became known in the area as the “brainchild” behind developing the very first residential condominium community. This successful venture led him to broaden the condominium communities throughout the Boardman and Canfield areas.
Joe’s labor of love wasn’t complete. He then expanded into developing office and business executive parks, medical complexes, nursing homes, restaurants, retail plazas, industrial parks, warehousing, and self-storage facilities. Joe was a faithful member of St. Charles Parish. He also was a member of the Mahoning Valley Home Builders Association, serving as president in 1970. In 2009, he was honored as one of the first inductees into the HBA Hall of Fame. Joe was a member of the National Association of Home Builders for over 50 years, where he gained status of the Life Spike Club.
As a member of the Boardman Civic Association, he was honored with the Outstanding Remodeled Construction and Outstanding New Construction awards for his work building places such as Caffè Capri and the Surgery Center at Southwoods, among many others. In 2002, he was honored again by the Boardman Civic Association with the Community Service Award recognizing his involvement in many community projects by donating his time and talents in local projects such as, Boardman Park, the Field of Dreams, and St. Charles Church.
Joe was also a local, professional musician for over 30 years. Besides his love of work and music, he enjoyed time playing golf, bowling, and bocce. He loved family gatherings and spending time with his friends.
Joe will be remembered lovingly by his wife of 62 years, Anna Marie (Rasile) Sylvester, whom he married Feb. 8, 1952; his son and daughter-in-law, Joseph J. Jr. and Kathy Sylvester of Boardman; his two grandchildren, Joey Sylvester of Canfield and Krysta (Jeff) Sylvester-Peterson of Boardman, who he adored and took great pleasure in following their sporting events and professional endeavors; as well as his several loving nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his three brothers, Fred, Frank, and Nick.
Friends may call on Friday, Aug. 8, 2014, from 9 a.m. until time of the mass at St. Charles Church.
Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family will respectfully accept any monetary contributions to be distributed in Joe’s name between the Hospice House and St. Charles Church.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the entire staff and aides at Hospice House and Shepherd of the Valley in Boardman for all their special care and compassion shown to Joe during his time there.
The Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home in Boardman have been bestowed the honor and privilege of handling the funeral arrangements for Joe.
Family and friends may visit the Book of Memories at www.rossifunerals.com to view this tribute and send condolences to Joe’s family.
BOARDMAN – A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, 2014, at St. Charles Borromeo Church with Rev. Philip Rogers officiating, for Joseph J. Sylvester Sr., 85, who passed away peacefully the morning of Aug. 4, at Hospice House with his family by his side.
Joe was born April 3, 1929, in Youngstown, the son of Carl and Anna (Burce) Silvestri.
Joe was a 1948 graduate of East High School and served with the U.S. Army Band during the Korean Conflict. He was employed as a driver with the Renner Brewery Company until 1956. Joe is well-known to many as a prominent residential and commercial builder and developer. His construction career began in 1956, when he partnered with his friend, Nick Jeswald to form Jeswald and Sylvester Construction, building homes for about ten years.
He then ventured out on his own and re-located to Boardman in 1969. He constructed his first commercial office building on West Blvd., near 224 in Boardman. It is at this location that the Joseph Sylvester Construction Company still remains today. Following a trip to Florida in 1981, he became known in the area as the “brainchild” behind developing the very first residential condominium community. This successful venture led him to broaden the condominium communities throughout the Boardman and Canfield areas.
Joe’s labor of love wasn’t complete. He then expanded into developing office and business executive parks, medical complexes, nursing homes, restaurants, retail plazas, industrial parks, warehousing, and self-storage facilities. Joe was a faithful member of St. Charles Parish. He also was a member of the Mahoning Valley Home Builders Association, serving as president in 1970. In 2009, he was honored as one of the first inductees into the HBA Hall of Fame. Joe was a member of the National Association of Home Builders for over 50 years, where he gained status of the Life Spike Club.
As a member of the Boardman Civic Association, he was honored with the Outstanding Remodeled Construction and Outstanding New Construction awards for his work building places such as Caffè Capri and the Surgery Center at Southwoods, among many others. In 2002, he was honored again by the Boardman Civic Association with the Community Service Award recognizing his involvement in many community projects by donating his time and talents in local projects such as, Boardman Park, the Field of Dreams, and St. Charles Church.
Joe was also a local, professional musician for over 30 years. Besides his love of work and music, he enjoyed time playing golf, bowling, and bocce. He loved family gatherings and spending time with his friends.
Joe will be remembered lovingly by his wife of 62 years, Anna Marie (Rasile) Sylvester, whom he married Feb. 8, 1952; his son and daughter-in-law, Joseph J. Jr. and Kathy Sylvester of Boardman; his two grandchildren, Joey Sylvester of Canfield and Krysta (Jeff) Sylvester-Peterson of Boardman, who he adored and took great pleasure in following their sporting events and professional endeavors; as well as his several loving nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his three brothers, Fred, Frank, and Nick.
Friends may call on Friday, Aug. 8, 2014, from 9 a.m. until time of the mass at St. Charles Church.
Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family will respectfully accept any monetary contributions to be distributed in Joe’s name between the Hospice House and St. Charles Church.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the entire staff and aides at Hospice House and Shepherd of the Valley in Boardman for all their special care and compassion shown to Joe during his time there.
The Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home in Boardman have been bestowed the honor and privilege of handling the funeral arrangements for Joe.
Family and friends may visit the Book of Memories at www.rossifunerals.com to view this tribute and send condolences to Joe’s family.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph J. Sylvester Sr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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