Patrick Walsh
Bill Silk was a man unlike any other I’ve met. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who embodied the care, joy, consistency, and unconditional love of God to so many around him. To say that “they just don’t make men like this anymore” is an understatement.
It was an honor to know him and serve our community together. It was a pure gift of God that I had the blessing to call him my friend.
His dedication and service lives on in all the lives he touched. Whether literally giving food to those in need in our community at Catholic Social Services’ Martha’s Choice Marketplace, or helping us maintain and improve our facility infrastructure, he was always there for his community.
The safety of much of the baseboard heating in the basement of the convent at St. Paul Parish in Norristown owes its continued intact existence to Bill’s creative wooden barriers. His work helping to run the St. Paul’s carnival for years was a special part of his dedication to his parish community.
Bill was a man of steadfast loyalty, sacrifice and hard work. He was curious to understand the heart of his fellow man, always willing to go to great lengths to light joy, love, and especially laughter in the people around him. Bill cared about the things that matter: Family, friends, the people in his community, beauty, kindness.
They say we are supposed to try and see God in people. Well, Bill saw God in everyone. And let me tell you, it was no work to see God in Bill.
Bill Silk was a husband, father, grandfather, friend, faithful parishioner and volunteer — and exciting Elvis Presley impersonator — who died in January 2025. He is remembered fondly by his friend and colleague Patrick Walsh, director of Martha’s Choice Marketplace, a ministry of archdiocesan Catholic Social Services.
Bill mentored so many young people over the course of his life, in his work in the Boy Scouts, in Big Brothers Big Sisters, and at the pantry at Martha’s Choice Marketplace. Those young people will go on to mentor others, their lives of service and dedication will inspire others, and so on. Love is eternal, and Bill sent out a lot of it.
And then there is Elvis. Bill was doing Elvis Presley impersonations for friends in nursing homes as recently as a couple months ago. Elvis graced most of our pantry events with his presence over the past 10 years. Bill loved Elvis.
I’ll never forget how Bill invited my wife and I and my 3- and 5-year-old daughters to his granddaughter’s birthday. There of course was a bouncy house, festivities, and fun 5-year-old girl decorations, games, and toys. What no one was expecting was an actual pony. My daughters still cherish those memories, and the photos that they keep to this day.
Bill was a man of deep generosity. When he spoke to you, it was as if you were the only person in the world. He gave his attention and presence totally when he was with you. It’s a lesson we could all learn.
Bill’s passing leaves an absence felt in his family, his church, his community, and amongst his many friends. From one perspective, there is less love, less laughter, less joy, less tenderness, less hope in the world because Bill is gone.
But that is not really the case. Like a mountain snow that melts away and feeds rivers and the sea, the river of Bill’s soul has given the most precious things: love, joy, etc.. These gifts, like Bill’s soul, are eternal, and only amplify when given away.
I am reminded of what is important when I think of how much I miss Bill. His life was a testament to love. One line that comes to mind when thinking of Bill was sung by Michael Caine in the Muppet’s Christmas Carol.
“If you need to know
the measure of a man,
you simply count his friends,
Stop and look around you
The glory that you see
Is born again each day
Don’t let it slip away
How precious life can be.”
Bill showed us that every day. Bill was so much to so many, and so many things to us at the food pantry: A volunteer, a repair man, an adviser, a donor, a mentor, an entertainer, a neighbor, an advocate. But most of all — and this is the greatest gift he could give — he was our friend. He was my friend. A dear, dear friend.
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Patrick Walsh is the Director of Programs at Catholic Social Services’ Martha’s Choice Marketplace & Community Farm. Patrick has been building community through access to healthy food since 2015. When he’s not at Martha’s, you can find him around the campfire or in the garden with his four lovely children and amazing wife.
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