In Loving Memory
Silvester McBride
Silvester passed away unexpectedly, at the age of 66, while spending time at his second home in Arroyo Seco.
Silvester was born June 17, 1954, to Beulah and Fred McBride in Chicago, IL. Silvester proudly served in the US Navy for 6 years. He then went to work at Mare Island, before moving onto UC Berkeley where he had many noteworthy accomplishments. Silvester even appeared in the University’s newspaper for the role he played in figuring out how the chloramine could be removed from the water that supports the research. Finally, he attained his PMP and spent the last 10 years as a Project Manager. He loved construction, and his work can be seen all around the Bay Area.
Besides spending time with his family and friends, Silvester was a spiritual man who enjoyed music, fishing, playing his bass, watching sports and building things. He was a kind, patient, loving and incredibly charismatic person. He made this world a better place.
Silvester is survived by his wife, Tracie Nicole Mennenga of Richmond, CA, two daughters, Kimberly McBride of Richmond, CA and Nikita Mcbride-Peoples of Jacksonville, FL; two stepchildren, Fredrick Cotton of Vallejo, CA and Courtney Cotton of Richmond, CA; five grandchildren, Shaquan Peoples, Armari Peoples and Autumn Peoples of Jacksonville, FL, Seddrick and Kaelyn Henderson of Richmond, CA; four brothers, Charlie McBride of Memphis, TN, Angelo McBride of Memphis, TN, Russell McBride of Los Angeles, CA and Corey McBride of Corona, CA. He was preceded in death by his siblings Fred McBride, Jr., Willie Edward McBride, Freda McBride, Reginald Williams, Darryl Williams and Amos Williams.
There will be an online memorial service April 24th at 1:00pm PST. Please contact Tracie at nicoletracie@ gmail.com for details.
Online Celebration of Life
Saturday, April 24th
1:00 PM Pacific
Please join us for a celebration of Silvester’s life. Information on how to join the ceremony is below.
Before the day of the ceremony
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On the day of the ceremony
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Guestbook
Please join us in celebrating Silvester’s life by sharing your stories and memories of him.
Back in 2001, Silvester gave me the opportunity of becoming a Custodial Supervisor. I remember him as being kind and a fair person, and he reward those that in my opinion did deserve the positive recognition and rewarded those for their accomplishments. I’m sure he is missed by many. My condolences to all of Silvester’s loved ones.
Gerald. Thank you so much for this note. Mac very much enjoyed his time with the Custodial department, and he really valued the Staff. He did believe in acknowledging and rewarding excellence. That was one of many special qualities 🙂
I miss my brother in arms. I think of him everyday. He was a very important person in my life. I will say more at the ceremony. Love to all and see you (virtually) soon.
I first met Silverster in 2000 ,I was trying to come to the day shift after spending 19 1/2 years on the swing shift,we spoke and he made it happen due to my family hardship….he’s always been a good person with me, rest in heaven mr silvester mcbride !! my heart,thoughts and prayers to tracie and the familia ????
Syl was a wonderful neighbor. He always had a big smile on his face. He was always making us laugh! He was fun-loving and helpful. Our kids grew up together. Syl helped contain a BBQ grill fire, preventing it from igniting my house! Syl also installed a ceiling fan in my breakfast nook. Our families shared a lot of meals and desserts. We grilled often and were at each other’s home daily, when he lived in Carriage Hills. We were a great family of friends. We had a lot of mutual friends and neighbors. My sincerest condolences to Syl’s family. You are in my prayers.
Mac was not only a good man at work, we was a good man, great neighbor and truth individual In the community. Rest in Pease my brother. James Tuck
It is so hard for me to get my head around the fact that Mac is no longer with us on this earthly plain. He left us all way to early. I will miss his huge smile, his positive-ness, his laugh. Rest In Peace Mac.
Many lives were touched by Mac. Everyone liked him. He will be missed by all. May he rest in peace.
My deepest condolences to the family and Tracie. I met with Sylvester in 1998 when he was in charge of the lock shops in Dwinelle Hall. We always share our thoughts and talked about our families. We worked together when he accepted the Director position in our custodial department. I would remember and keep him in my prayers. Sorry for the loss.
I met Mac up in Seco, we hit off right away. He was in the navy like l was station in Jacksonville like me. We both did project work.So you can see we had a lot to talk about. Mac was a very good person , I really Love him as my friend an will miss him dearly. If you knew Mac you were a lucky person.
I only knew Mac for the past few years! He was a terrific person and we had many conversations over our love of nature. He was a hard working man dedicated to his wife and family. His loss will be felt by many and his memory will live on in our hearts. Thank you for being such a great neighbor!!
Silvester McBride AKA “Mac Daddy”
I met Mac back in June 0f 1996 when I first started work at U.C Berkeley.
I was making a weld repair at Harmon gym. I had my legs wrapped around pipe hanging upside repairing a steam line and I heard this guy yell what the hell is going on!!!! And he started laughing with that infectious laugh that was always warm and inviting. He was genuinely one of the good ones. We enjoyed getting together at Laval’s on Fridays for the “Notorious Fitter Fridays!!” Which was the fitters and carpenters building managers and even one of our former Directors reminiscing of the good old days. Mac had a way of making you feel like family. And that’s the way I will always remember him as my Brother. To the family and to Tracie our hearts and prayers are with you but just look up and smile because he will always be there looking down and smiling back. Every time you think of him just look up and smile.
Much Love and Aloha Joe
My brother my friend and real homie!!! Mac you will be missed and we’ll all look after Tracie, RIH
Your Brother Mike
As neighbors of Tracie and Mac in Arroyo Seco, it was always great to sense Mac’s caring bond with Tracie’s grandfather Clayton. Mac had such a peaceful way about him. He loved working on their Arroyo Seco house, and when he was outside busy on projects, he always had time for a chat. It was wonderful when his musician friends visited and jammed on blues for hours — the sounds of the guitars echoing in the river valley would say something eternal, beyond words. Our sympathies to the family, and best wishes for carrying on the memory and values of this unique person, who thought and felt so deeply about life.
Mac was always a supportive big brother to my son, Ezra and a dear friend. George and I always looked forward to sharing dinners with Mac and Tracie at their home or at Ezra’s over the years. I don’t know which was better: the FOOD or the CONVERSATIONS we shared together!
When I think of Mac I feel a genuine warmth in my heart and a sense of joy because he lived his life with generosity, integrity, and care toward all he knew—family, friends and coworkers, and made the world a better place because of his presence in it.
Mac always made me smile, and I still smile when I think of him.
Some things are deeply right with the world, and Mac’s presence was one of them.
Kevin and I are so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet Mac during our time in Walnut Creek. He was one of the most engaging, funny and smart people we have been privileged to meet, we are better for knowing him. He set the mood of any room he was in and always for the better ❤️
I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Mac’s family and Tracie.
Obviously, he was an amazing person as everyone here has shared. I have very similar memories of him ( his big smile, great conversations, and readiness to solve a problem with good advice).
My prayers are with you all…
My condolences to family,
Mac was a good friend to my husband and me.
His generous smile and genuine
easy attitude struck a note with me and my daughter Amber, who is disabled. He always spoke directly to her and held a conversation with her even though she is non-verbal. He would always get lots of laughs
from her.
After I lost my husband in 2019
Mac would call out of the blue just to check on us. If I was feeling down, Mac would soon have me laughing through the tears.
We miss you Mac.
Praying for all family and friends
for strength and peace.
Having been out of the Bay Area for many years, I only got to know Mac within the last decade, though we probably crossed paths various times when I was still in school and working out of Dwinelle Hall. At any rate, from the first time I set foot in his home it felt like we’d been hanging out a long time, and from that point I knew I’d be welcome, entertained, and well fed. Someone today said that Mac didn’t know any strangers, and it’s easy to see why. Tracie, seeing you with Mac made me smile every time, and even though this is a sad time, I’m still smiling thinking about what you two had. I am so grateful that I got to be around for even a little of it. My love to both of you.
Mr McBride was definitely someone that you could always rely on if you needed something. I grew up living across the street from him and he was always social, encouraging, and educating. He wanted all of the kids to do well and he took on the role as the wise elder long after we lived in the same neighborhood. When you would encounter life and its lessons he was the person that would say, “Well, what are you gonna do to fix” versus allow you to be overcome by your situation.
He made himself available as a resource, and after my father passed Mr. McBride and Mr. Wilson were the dynamic duo that I would call on if I had a problem or project at one of my properties. Both of them were good friends of my father and I appreciated how reliable they were in filling the gap after my father passed.
When Mr. Wilson passed I knew it hit Mr. Mcbride hard. I would call to check on him just for that purpose, because whenever I needed the help he was there for me, and I wanted to return the favor.
I definitely will miss him, but I will never forget the lessons he provided to assist me in being smart with my decisions, strategic with projects, and conscious to enjoy life and family.
Mrs. McBride, Kim, Fred, and Courtney thank you for sharing such a special person, we are all like family, and just as he remained in my life as a resource, I am committed to be available to you. I pray that you are comforted in your time of bereavement.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” Matthew 5:4
The gang (Charles, Mike, Silvester) has gotten back together in heaven, I hope they take a break from fishing, and telling stories so that they can rest from all the hard work they put in to get us where we are today!
Thank you – Love You – Support you
We have only been here in the neighborhood for 3 years, but feel so grateful to have been able to have the time that we did with Mac. Getting into conversations from across the street that would eventually bring us closer after long greetings and conversations that were real adventures! He just had a way of bringing the calm even when we were talking about some not so calm issues. When we were trying to figure out how to open up our garage door manually he was guiding me with his descriptions as I was “stuck” on the inside. Within minutes the door opened and I could escape without having to crawl under the house and through an opening to access the garage. We miss you Mac and are so fortunate for the time that we had with you! You will always be remembered and have a special place in our hearts…