Robert Silvestre (1995)

Dr. Silvestre came into CCRI in 1964 as one of the college’s 13 founding faculty members, being an instructor of science, mathematics, and pre-technical education and Chairman of the Biology Department. He retired from the college in 2002.  His philosophy of sports and athletics having a positive impact on students to help them prepare for life led to him introducing two new sports to the athletic program.  In 1965, Dr. Silvestre created the first baseball team with Ray Newbold; they practiced at an abandoned area in the CIC building for practice and the uniforms were a sweatshirt and a hat.  He went on to be an assistant coach under Whitey Fell for 8 years, being very successful together.  Dr. Silvestre’s next accomplishment started because of having a soccer background, being a world class soccer player in the military and being active in the community soccer programs; he started a soccer program in the fall of 1972 at CCRI.  In his 7-year tenure, he tallied a record of 48-25-9 and in their second year, the team was a finalist in the New England Regionals.  For 4 consecutive years they qualified for the playoffs and in 1974, Dr. Silvestre won the New England Coach of the Year award.  He developed amazing players such as All-American Herman Mello and All-New England Joao Silva.