Sylvan S. Ash

On May 23, 2012, Sylvan Samuel Ash Jr., of Daly City, California passed away peacefully after a longterm illness at the VA Hospital Community Living Center in San Francisco, California. He was 86. He was born October 27, 1925 in Claymont Delaware, the youngest of three children. At 16 years of age, and not yet old enough to join the regular Army, he joined the U.S Merchant Marine to serve his country at the onset of WWII in 1941. In 1943, Sylvan joined the U.S. Army. He began his career in Infantry before finding his niche in what he loved most. He completed Parachute Training and Advanced Airborne School as a member of the 82nd Airborne. After a serious jumping injury, he retrained into the Criminal Investigation Division (CID). He was married to the late Retha Howell of Raeford and they had one son Scotty. While stationed in Trieste, Italy,he married Fiorella Maggio and had two sons, Perry and Gary. He retired with an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army to civilian life in 1963. He leaves behind his wife, Fiorella Ash, and his three sons Scott, Perry and Gary. He was the adored grandfather of Kristin Ash Moya, Ryan Ash, Jessica Ash, Eric Ash, Christopher Ash, Emily Ash, Miya Ash, and Gavin Ash, and great grandfather to Gabriella Moya. He is also survived by his sister Esther Shaw. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the VA Medical Center CLC, 4150 Clement St., SF, CA 94121.