Chief Silvia’s Retirement Marks End of 42-Year Career with Cohasset Fire
COHASSET — The Cohasset Fire Department is celebrating Chief Robert Silvia’s 42-year career with the department in honor of his retirement today, April 22.
Chief Silvia, a Cohasset native who has served as the department’s leader for 15 years, began his career with Cohasset Fire in 1979.
Yesterday on Thursday, April 21, the department held an open house sendoff for those who wanted to wish Chief Silvia well on his retirement. He officially retired from the department today.
“It sounds cliché, but this is the greatest job in the world. If you love what you do you never work a day in your life. And how did 42 years slip by? It slipped by because I didn’t think about it on a day-to-day basis because I truly loved my job,” Chief Silvia said. “I was blessed to be here. The Town of Cohasset and the people in this town have supported this fire department incredibly well for my 42 years of being here and I imagine that it will continue on that way.”
Chief Silvia has held many roles within the department and proudly serves on several county and statewide associations and committees in support of the fire service in Massachusetts.
He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1985, serving as the department’s training officer and records officer.
He was appointed to be the Acting Chief in September 2006 before being promoted to Chief in December 2006.
Under his leadership, the Cohasset Fire Department received several grants to improve the department’s equipment and apparatus, provide fire safety education to the community and allowed them to hire additional personnel.
The grants allowed the department to hire two firefighter/paramedics, upgrade three engines to non-transporting Advance Life Care ambulance status, purchase a pump trailer for training and upgrade their Self Contained Breathing Apparatus.
Chief Silvia is an active member of the Norfolk County Fire Chiefs Association, Fire Chiefs Association of Plymouth County and the Fire Chief’s Association of Massachusetts (FCAM). He also helped to create the South Shore Regional Emergency Communication Center.
He is currently the chairman of FCAM’s Utilities Committee and has served on the State 911 Commission since 2012. He was appointed to the State 911 Commission in 2012 by former Gov. Deval Patrick and was reappointed in 2016 by Gov. Charlie Baker.
Since the fall of 1982 Chief Silvia has been a member of the Cohasset High School Football coaching staff. In 2016 he was inducted into the Cohasset High School Hall of Fame.
Upon Chief Silvia’s retirement, Assistant Fire Chief John Dockray will be promoted to Chief. A swearing-in ceremony is being planned for a later date.
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