In Memoriam: Willard H. DaSilva
In the long list of important people who figure prominently in NAFA's 60 year history, few loom as large as Willard H. DaSilva, who served as the Association's first legal counsel, as well as a founder of the NAFA Foundation. He passed away on May 5, 2017 at Friedwald Center for Rehabilitation & Nursing in New City, New York surrounded by his family.
"Bill, ever secretive about his age, was 'in his 90s' when he passed away," said NAFA Chief Executive Officer Phillip E. Russo, CAE. Through DaSilva's assistant, it was revealed that his health had deteriorated over the past nine months. "It was no surprise, in retrospect, that we learned of Bill's passing in this manner. As someone who devoted his life to service, not only to NAFA but to so many different causes and purposes, he tended to keep that sort of information close to the vest."
DaSilva served as general legal counsel to NAFA for more than 50 years. He stepped aside from the Association's duties in 2010. He is a recipient of the Association's Distinguished Service Award, NAFA’s highest form of recognition bestowed upon those with exemplary professional and personal contributions to the industry, society, and/or community.
Born in Freeport, New York, DaSilva served in his early years as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps, earning war time medals for his service, including the Victory Medal. He was trained in Meteorology and then Radar at the University of Minnesota and Yale University, respectively.
He was later admitted to the Bar in 1949, graduating magna cum laude from New York University where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his law degree at Columbia University Law School. He was a widely quoted commentator in the New York Times, Newsday, USA Today, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, and the New York Law Journal.
DaSilva cut his teeth in the legal arena handling cases that other lawyers simply did not want — matrimonial cases. He went on to become one of the foremost authorities on matrimonial law in the State of New York. He was a Senior Member of DaSilva & Hilowitz LLP, with offices in Garden City, New York, and more recently in New City, New York. He was one of fewer than 100 attorneys in the United States honored as a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers , and was recognized as a "Pre-eminent Attorney" in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, with an "AV" rating, limited to the top 1% of attorneys in the United States.
He is survived by his wife, Lynne S. Hilowitz, Esq., his children Andrew DaSilva, Deborah DaSilva, and Jill DaSilva, and his stepchildren, Matthew Hilowitz and Jillian Hilowitz. Memorial contributions in Willard DaSilva's memory may be made to The United Jewish Appeal, Israel Bonds, or The Rockland County Bar Association.
NAFA's collective membership thanks Willard DaSilva for his service to the Association and offers condolences to his family.
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