Robert Harvey Silvert, known to friends and family as “Rob,” passed away at home peacefully on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, at the age of 80 years.
Rob was born April 1, 1935, in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where he spent his entire childhood.
He began an accomplished career in the U.S. Air Force and served from 1955 to 1959. Rob was awarded the Outstanding Airman Award for seven consecutive months under the Strategic Air Command.
Honorably discharged from the military, Rob moved on to a career that spanned 32 years at Pan American Airways. He retired as supervisor of heavy overhaul maintenance and engineering of 747 services for Pan Am at JFK International Airport in New York.
He resided in Greenwich, Connecticut, for 18 years, then onto Ridgefield, Connecticut, for 10 years. Moving from Ridgefield in 1992 to reside in Kalispell, he continued his aeronautical career with ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering in Mobile, Alabama, where he was a project manager of 747 maintenance. Finalizing his aviation career, he was employed by Atlas Air, where he consulted and traveled the world as an aviation technical consultant.
Retiring to his Montana home in 2003, Rob enjoyed many activities including fishing, hunting, restoring/building furniture and attending local auctions, and personal storytelling.
Rob is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Bette,” to whom he was married for 51 years. In addition, he is survived by his children, Nancy and Scott Follett, Amy and Paul Carlsted, and son Todd; and two grandchildren, Brooks and Parker Follett. He is also survived by two sisters, Joyce and Lucy of Pennsylvania.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Pan American Historical Foundation or to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Friends are encouraged to visit the website, www.buffalohillfh.com , to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.