Yankee radio producer and engineer Carlos Silva passes at age 50 from cancer

1/19/14, Yankees Radio Engineer Carlos Silva Dies After Cancer Fight," newyork.cbslocal.com

Bernie and Carlos

"Carlos Silva, a longtime producer and engineer for Yankees games on WCBS 880, died Sunday morning after fighting esophageal and stomach cancer, his daughter said.

Silva, 50, worked in the game-day radio booth behind Yankees announcers John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman since 2006.

He had been battling cancer since the end of the 2012 baseball season but was able to work in the booth all of last year. His cancer returned this fall, and he was undergoing treatment while preparing to work with the broadcast team this spring.

“I started feeling sick after the All-Star Game,” the native of Caracas, Venezuela, told the New York Daily News in a December 2012 article. “When I got back from the break, I had trouble swallowing food and even liquid. I figured it was an allergy or something, so I didn’t pay much attention to it. It got worse during the next three months until the end of the season.”

Silva died at his offseason home in Lutz, Fla. His condition had taken a turn for the worse over the past two weeks. He had spent the past few days surrounded by his family and friends.

Silva is survived by his wife, Teresa, and their three children — Leslie, Kimberly and Matthew. While battling cancer, Silva found great support on the job from Waldman, a breast cancer survivor.

“Carlos Silva came to this country with nothing but the clothes on his back and a dream,” Waldman told WCBS 880 in an email Sunday. “He raised a beautiful family, sent two daughters to college, became a citizen, and a beloved part of the Yankees Family. He put up an arduous fight against the worst enemy one can have. He will be missed terribly, but will never be forgotten.”

Silva also worked with the WCBS Spanish Yankees broadcasts on WADO 1280 in New York City. During his career, Silva also worked for ESPN Radio, Phillies Spanish radio, the NBA’s Orlando Magic and the New Jersey Nets.

In the Daily News article, Silva expressed concern for the financial toll his illness was taking on his family because he was “the only supporter in the home.” In response, the Yankees sponsored fundraisers for him. Those wishing to help the Silvas can send a check to the SVG Sports Broadcasting Fund. Please mark the check “For the Carlos Silva Family” and mail it to:

SVG Sports Broadcasting Fund
℅ Bryant Bank, Attn: Heike Harris
1550 McFarland Boulevard N
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406." image above from WCBS Radio 880, via NY Radio Message Board, Radio Ink

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Comment: Suzyn and John often mentioned Carlos during the broadcasts and seemed to like him very much. Suzyn mentioned a couple of times that Carlos knew everyone in US baseball from Venezuela.