John Silvertand fought a courageous battle with cancer for over four years and finally succumbed on January 7, 2007, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. His wife of the last 22 years, Carolyn, was at his side at the end as John passed into eternal rest.

John was born in Nottingham, England on July 16, 1944. At a young age he and his parents moved to Dar es Salaam, in what is now Tanzania, as his father took up a position in Social Services. After receiving his early education in Africa, John continued his education at Worksop School in England before entering Sheffield University where he studied Chemical Engineering.

The next stage of his life saw a number of years serving in the Royal Air Force as a pilot where he flew Hercules transport planes and for a time served in Cyprus.

John came to Bermuda in 1971 where he was employed as sales manager for Burrows Lightbourn Limited until 1984.

Whilst in Bermuda he played field hockey and it was not long before he became president of the Bermuda Hockey Association.

He worked tirelessly for the Association and participated in many overseas tours to the United States, Canada and Europe. During one tour to Washington DC he was chatting to someone who will be forever remembered as Don. While sipping cocktails one evening, Don suggested that Bermuda should host an international hockey festival.

The idea stayed with John and, assisted by a handful of dedicated hockey players, he made plans for the first Bermuda Hockey Festival in 1977. His belief in this venture and his persuasiveness secured the sponsorship of Bacardi.

The first festival involved four men’s teams and three ladies’ teams from overseas to compete with local teams for a week of hockey and fun. Once the stage was set the festival continued for many years.

The Bermuda Hockey Festival organising committee was presented with an award by the Bermuda Government in 1983 to recognise their contribution to the sport of field hockey.

John’s enthusiasm, charisma and vision were responsible for substantial fund raising activities with the objective of providing funds for a field hockey team to represent Bermuda in the Pan American Games. Although this objective did not materialise during John’s term of office it did sow the seeds for much of the early development of hockey in Bermuda.

John’s time in the Royal Air Force was probably behind the setting up of Atlantic Airways in Bermuda as a small cargo airline. All systems were in place including the lease of an aeroplane, but after the inaugural flight the venture did not prosper, but it was one more example of a project emanating from a man of vision and courage.

On June 16, 1984, John married Carolyn whom he had met previously during a skiing trip to Vail. Following his departure from Bermuda, the couple lived at various times in St. Louis, Chicago and Florida where John was president of Silvertand Designs, an interior design company, yet another example of a bold adventurous step.

John’s grandfather had owned Southwell Racecourse in England and it may have been this connection that sparked John’s love of horses and led him to become a successful breeder in Florida. His success in the world of horse breeding was epitomised in the fairy tale story of Afleet Alex, a thoroughbred horse that he bred with the assistance of his daughter Lauren who kept the young Afleet Alex alive by feeding him from a Coors Light bottle with a nipple attached.

John and his partner decided to split their foals and as the result of a cruel coin toss the foal left the care of John.

In 2005 while John was battling cancer, Afleet Alex, whom he had literally brought back to life, was third in the Kentucky Derby, won the Preakness after a dramatic stumble in the final stretch and then won the Belmont Stakes and therefore came so close to winning the Triple Crown.

After winning the Preakness the owners invited John to the winners enclosure to share in their joy. John told a friend that evening as he was driving home after the Preakness, “This horse has kept me alive.”

John was honoured with awards as Florida Breeder of the year 2005, Florida Small Breeder of the year 2005, TOBA Florida Brood Mare of the year 2005 and Breeder of the year for two-year-olds and three-year-olds for 2004/2005.

John’s fight with cancer was the catalyst behind he and the owners of Afleet Alex forming what became known as Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a charity which still serves as a substantial fund raiser for paediatric cancer research.

However, behind all these interests there was an abiding devotion to and love for his family. In addition to his wife Carolyn, John leaves to mourn two daughters from his first marriage to Bea from Bermuda, Jennifer Silvertand-Short and grand-daughter Jada who live in Montreal and Jill Silvertand who lives in California. John was also very attached to his third daughter Lauren who John and Carolyn adopted from Romania.

Those of John’s friends who were in contact with him during his illness and nine operations will never forget his positive outlook on life and his enduring sense of humour. Even when he knew how serious his situation was, there was never the slightest sense of self pity. John’s love for and happy memories of Bermuda and the maintenance of contact with his many friends both in Bermuda and elsewhere remained to the end.

All who knew him would agree wholeheartedly with Carolyn who said: “He lived life to the full and he loved living life.”

John Martin Silvertand, affectionately known as Silvers, will be sadly missed.

A Memorial Service will be held at Aycock Funeral Home, 1112 Military Trail, Jupiter, Florida 33458 at 1.00 p.m. on Saturday, January 20.

— CONTRIBUTED