Simon Silva

Simon was born in Phoenix, Arizona, to Sisto Silva and Josefina Gallegos. He has a brother, Paul who is one year younger than him. Both of his parents were widowers and had children from their first marriages. Simon grew up in Salinas, raised by his Dad. Growing up in Salinas, next the fields, he knew school was his way out of poverty. He learned at an early age the power of advocacy, helping his Dad and neighbors.

Simon went to college at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He liked it so much that he added a second major so he could stay an extra year! While in college, he joined the Marine Corps as a reservist and became a Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department Reserve Deputy. After college, Simon went to law school at the University of San Diego.

Simon was a lawyer for 29 years. He had a storied career in public service – Chula Vista Deputy City Attorney, San Diego Deputy City Attorney, and Deputy Attorney General. He enjoyed an incredibly broad area of legal practice over the years. He relished finding solutions through the interpretation and application of the law, as well as prevailing in court. His last 13 years of legal practice were with the City of Chula Vista. He loved his work for the City he lived in. He enjoyed working with his colleagues throughout the City, knowing they strived for what was just and right. It was his sense of duty and commitment to community that led him to run for City Attorney.

He believed in service of others. Throughout his life he served his country, his community, his city. He served on the boards of Serving Seniors and the Chula Vista Community Foundation because he believed deeply in their missions.

As extraordinary a lawyer as Simon was, he was first and foremost a devoted family man. He met his future wife, Claudia, in his second year of law school. They married after law school and raised two amazing daughters. Simon and Claudia were unequivocally devoted to and supportive of each other. He captured her heart when they met and her heart still fluttered when she saw him enter a room. Where you saw Simon, you would soon see Claudia close by. Theirs was a love story for the ages.

Simon was an exceptional father. He adored his daughters, Gabriela and Isabel, beyond words. His face would light up whenever he spoke about them. Simon would text them silly gifs and always tell them he loved them. He encouraged them in everything they did. He was so incredibly proud of his girls. Simon loved them fiercely, unconditionally, and eternally. They gave him so much joy and happiness. He absolutely loved being a dad to his girls.

Simon lived life with love and purpose, duty and honor. This short summary of his life cannot fully capture all that he did and who he was. He had such heart, integrity, kindness, love, and intelligence. He was an exceptional person. He will be missed.

A visitation at Glen Abbey's Orchid Pavilion for Simon will be held Friday, September 16, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A Funeral Mass at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church will occur Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at 278 Alvarado Street, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Following the funeral mass a graveside service will occur from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM at Glen Abbey Memorial Park.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.glenabbeysandiego.net for the Silva family.