Alexander Albuquerque Silva Jr.

Alex was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on October 1, 1929. In 1942 his family moved to Queens, New York, where he graduated from Long Island City High School. That same year, Alex joined the Navy, serving for 9 years.

After leaving the Navy, Alex used the GI bill to attend California Polytechnic State University. He graduated in 1961 and began working as a news reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Daily Tribune. He received his Master’s in Urban Affairs from Occidental University in 1971. Throughout his career, Alex wore many hats which included a fellowship at the CORO Foundation in Public Affairs, chief of staff for Congressman Ronald Cameron, speech writer for vice presidential candidate Edmund Muskie, “advance man” for the visiting Chinese ping-pong team in 1972, a political appointee by President Jimmy Carter as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Navy for Equal Opportunity focusing on Women at Sea program, and Special Assistant to the Comptroller General at the General Accountability Office (formerly the General Accounting Office) where he ran their equal opportunity office. Alex retired in 1994, and in 1998 he and his wife Donna moved to St. James, North Carolina.

Alex was a dedicated life-long Democrat, loved water and was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years Donna, two daughters Samantha Burns (Jon) and Laura Kuhn (Christian) and three grandchildren, Christian, Emma, and Eva.

There will be no services.

Memorial donations may be made to the Brunswick County Democratic Party, PO Box 289, Supply, North Carolina 28462, or the Sierra Club, 2101 Webster Street, Suite 1300, Oakland, CA 94612.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com.

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport.