In Loving Memory

Donna with husband Bob and 2 of their grandchildren

Robert E. Briggs

March 27, 1939 - February 26, 2005

Robert E. Briggs, 65, of Orlando, Florida passed away Saturday, February 26, 2005.

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Harry and Irma (Ward) Briggs, was a Sales Representative, a United States Air Force Veteran and a member of Annunciation Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife, Donna (Mularz) Briggs; daughter, Debbie Percival of Jacksonville, FL; sons, Robert, Jr. Richard (Lorrie) and Ronald W. all of Jacksonville, FL and 12 grandchildren.

Bob and Donna have been involved with Jose Silva's programs since 1975. They began presenting the program in the Orlando area in 1978, and were among the first to join to teach Jose Silva's UltraMind ESP System.

For more about Bob and to learn why he and Donna are so enthusiastic about the Silva System, click here to read his story. For more about Donna and her class schedule, please visit www.Donna.UltraMind.ws.

Ricardo Silva at his desk at IPI Printing, 1989

Photo by Ed Bernd Jr.

A personal memory

Laredo, Texas

Jan. 18, 2005

Ricardo Silva, 3rd child of Jose and Paula Silva, born in 1943, was involved with his father's work from a very young age, first as a research subject, later as one of the owners and managers of the Silva business.

Like his brothers, he served in the military during the Vietnam era.

Ricardo opened up Brazil to the Silva programs in the 1970s. Later he returned home to Laredo to manage the company's printing and publishing business, IPI Printing.

He was manager of IPI when I came to Laredo to edit the Silva Newsletter in 1981. At our first meeting, he told me, "We don't think of you as an employee, we think of you as family."

Ricardo was definitely unique, and was a major factor in the development of the Silva System we have today.

He never seemed to have any time to be discouraged or depressed - he was always busy figuring out what to do next.

When he had an urge to do something, he acted on it. He didn't hide his feelings - he let you know where he stood and what he believed.

You always knew what was on his mind - like the time we were arguing (like brothers) and he threatened to knock all my teeth out. He didn't follow through of course; it was just his way of letting me know how he felt.

Ricardo did not go far in school, but he had a kind of intelligence that can't be taught. His spontaneity sometimes led him into trouble; other times his straight talking was exactly what was needed. I am still involved with UltraMind thanks to Ricardo's clear thinking after his father died.

Even when a degenerative condition in his spine left his legs paralyzed and with a lot of pain, his personality never changed. Besides programming, he used every treatment he could think of from acupuncture to magnets to herbs and ointments. And conventional pain killers, with all the harm they can do to a body.

He taught me many of the things he had learned when I began to have to deal with post polio syndrome. He showed me acupressure points that I still use to relieve pain and energize my body.

I never once heard him complain about his own condition. He was too busy for that.

Last night I went to bed around 2 a.m. When I got to level, Ricardo came to mind. I had the urge to comfort him. I knew he had been in the hospital since Christmas, and was in bad shape. I wanted to reassure him that everything would be okay, and that his friends were holding good thoughts for him. Throughout, I had a very peaceful feeling.

Ricardo's brother Joe called at noon to let me know that Ricardo had died at 3 a.m.

I am grateful that I got to know and work with Ricardo, and that he thought of me as part of his family for the last 23 years.

-- Ed Bernd Jr.