ELLSWORTH – James Allan Silsby died Sept. 23, 2011, in Bangor. He was born April 22, 1929, in Bangor, one of five sons of Samuel Schoppee Silsby, M.D., and Ella Mae (Shorey) Silsby.
He graduated from Bangor High School in 1947, where he lettered in track; from the University of Maine at Orono with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1951, where he was a member of Phi Eta Kappa fraternity, played freshman football and lettered in track; and from Boston University School of Law in 1954, where he received an LLB degree. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954 through 1956. He completed basic training at Fort Dix, N.J., and advanced training as an artillery survey specialist at Fort Sill, Okla. He then served a 16-month tour of duty in Korea. He was in the general practice of law in Bangor from 1956 to 1960. He then took employment in Boston with the U.S. Treasury Department Chief Counsel’s Office from 1960 to 1967, where he became a senior attorney. During his employment with the Treasury Department, he took night courses in the Boston University Graduate Tax Program, and earned a master’s degree in taxation in 1965. He and his family moved to his wife’s hometown of Ellsworth in 1967, where he practiced law from 1967 to 1995, when he retired. After his retirement, he drove for the Island Explorer bus service on Mount Desert Island for 10 years. He greatly enjoyed meeting and speaking with people visiting the MDI area during his tenure with Island Explorer. Mr. Silsby was a director of SAD 66, was elected to the Ellsworth School Committee and served as its chairman, and was elected twice to Ellsworth City Council and served as chairman and honorary mayor. He was twice elected to the State of Maine Legislature, representing House District 41, consisting of Ellsworth, Hancock and Sullivan, in the 108th and 109th Legislatures, where he served on the State Government and Judiciary committees. During his years in politics, he was a member of a number of civic organizations. He was a member in the Rising Virtue Lodge of Masons, Bangor, for more than 50 years. He loved firefighting and was a member of Senator Hale Hose Company, Ellsworth, for many years. He also served the state of Maine for more than 25 years as a complaint justice, and later as a justice of the peace. He was also appointed as a dedimus justice by Gov. McKernan and served in that capacity for a number of years. He was a lover of professional sports, and was a great fan of the Red Sox and Patriots. He enjoyed the many trips he took hunting and fishing in his younger days, as well as boating and camping trips with his family.
Mr. Silsby is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Elizabeth (Backman) Silsby; and by three children and their families, James A. Silsby Jr. and wife, Carol, of Ellsworth and their children, Capt. James A. Silsby III, U.S. Army, and wife, Jessica, of Waipahu, Hawaii, and Cpl. Charles R. Silsby, U.S. Marine Corps, of Portland; Mary S. Newman and husband, Robert, of Gouldsboro and their children, Robert M. Newman of Portland and Brandon P. Newman of Wakefield, Mass.; and Raymond S. Silsby of Ellsworth and his children, Sarah L. Silsby of Denver and Rebecca E. Silsby of Ellsworth. Mr. Silsby had four beloved brothers, and was predeceased by brothers, Samuel S. Silsby Jr., Carl T. Silsby and Paul S. Silsby. He is survived by his brother, David S. Silsby of Manchester; as well as several cousins, and many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be 5-7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26, at Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth. Family graveside services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Woodbine Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Maine chapter of the American Heart Society, 51 U.S. Route 1, Suite M, Scarborough, ME 04074. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.