Michael DaSilva, a longtime sports reporter, passed away on Wednesday following a battle with lung cancer, devastating the community of coaches, athletes and fellow reporters who had known him for years.
He was 65.
The father of three daughters also leaves to mourn his wife, Cherry DaSilva.
‘Mike’ as he was affectionately called in media circles, covered numerous sports disciplines during his tenure at Stabroek News and the Guyana Chronicle.
Da Silva worked at this newspaper from 1994 to 2007 and won a number of awards including the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Journalist of the Year award in 2006 and was selected by the GOA, along with veteran photographer Winston Oudkerk, to cover the 2007 Pan Am Games as a result.
Former journalist and current Public Relations Manager of Banks DIH Limited, Troy Peters, recalled that Da Silva served a stint as president of the Guyana Badminton Association.
Peters said that the late Da Silva was also actively involved as a coach/physical fitness trainer in the now defunct Guyana National Service and was actively involved in a number of sports disciplines including hockey.
President of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle a former coworker of DaSilva’s at Stabroek News, stated that ‘Mike’s passing is a blow to the journalism fraternity.
“It is a sad passing, I would want to say my condolences to the wife and family of Mike DaSilva. I am sending my condolences as a friend of Mike and also as President of the GBA.”
Ninvalle added “Mike and I would have met at Stabroek News while I was a journalist there in the sports department and our friendship continued during his coverage of boxing events. I think it’s a blow to the journalism fraternity in Guyana and we would like to say may his soul rest in peace. We have lost a good brother and someone who especially in the field of boxing was experienced and versed in covering most sports disciplines but especially boxing.”
Leon Horatio, Sports Editor of the Guyana Chronicle echoed similar sentiments to Ninvalle.
“It’s a great loss to the sporting fraternity” said Horatio. “I would say he was one of Guyana’s seasoned sports journalists who plied his trade with competence for a number of years.”
President of the Guyana Olympic Association, K Juman-Yassin remembered DaSilva as a respected sports journalist who was not afraid to rock the boat.
“I am saddened to learn of the death of Mike DaSilva. He was a well-respected sports journalist and was not afraid to report accurately even if it meant rocking the boat. He was always on the lookout for news and as all good journalist, wanted breaking stories. My deepest condolences to his family.”
Dr. Karen Pilgrim, Vice President of the GOA reacted that DaSilva was one of the first journalist who accurately covered the sport of swimming.
“I am so sorry to hear about his passing, he was one of the first persons who made an effort to understand swimming and attempted to give knowledgeable coverage of the sport.”
According to his wife, Mike’s funeral is tentatively set for Friday.
