LEICESTER John C. Sylvestri, formerly of Mahopac, N.Y., died peacefully on March 24, 2008, of congestive heart failure at age 86. He was born June 29, 1921, in Ossining, N.Y., to Donato and Jenny (Fasciani) Silvestri. John graduated from Ossining High School. He was an Army stenographer stationed in Central and South America during WWII. He later worked and retired from General Foods Corp. as a sales representative. It was during his travels on the job that he met his future wife, Vera T. "Pat" Shook, owner of Pat's General Store in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. They married in 1952, and raised a family in Mahopac, N.Y. He resided there for 50 years prior to moving near his daughter, Chris Sylvestri, in Vermont. John was most famous for his golf game. He started as a caddy in his young teens and in his prime he was a scratch player with three holes-in-one. John loved people of all ages and he liked to have fun, especially with children. Even in his 80s, he could be seen pitching a game of softball with his grandkids. His quick smile, sense of humor and twinkling blue eyes stayed with him to the end of his life. John is survived by his son, John Sylvestri Jr. and his partner Becky Daddazio of La Grange, N.Y.; daughter, Chrisandra Sylvestri and her husband Scott Totten of Salisbury, Vt.; daughter, Michele and her husband Russ Day of Poughquag, N.Y.; stepdaughter-in-law, Patricia Meade of Central Valley, N.Y.; along with 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by Vera in 1986, and stepson, Harold Meade, in September of 2007. There will be calling hours at the Sanderson Funeral Services, 117 South Main St. in Middlebury, Vt., on Wednesday, March 26, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 27, at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home. On Friday, there will be a 2:00 p.m. burial in Barret Cemetery in Mahopac, N.Y., where he will be interred beside Vera. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Project Independence, PO Box 581, Middlebury, VT 05753.