Accident Database

Report ID# 2508

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Accident Description

Victim fell overboard while on a commericial rafting trip and is believed drowned.  http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/201497.html

Victim's body recovered on August 4, 2007.

https://www.change.org/p/river-rafting-personal-flotation-device-pfd-leg-straps.

Likely drowning victim an L.A. school district official
BY JASON KOTOWSKI, Californian staff writer
e-mail: jkotowski@bakersfield.com |
Monday, Jul 30 2007

PM Marvin Silver was an inspiration to students and co-workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District. As loved as he was in the district, Silver, 63, was even more cherished by family members. He always put family first, nephew Mark Garren said. Silver is believed to have drowned Friday while participating in a Whitewater Voyages trip with friends and his son David, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Department. His body had not been found as of 5 p.m. Monday.

"It's one of those situations where the level of optimism has continued to diminish as time has passed," Garren said. Silver was knocked off the raft before noon at a set of advanced rapids about 10 miles below the Isabella Lake dam, according to reports. He never surfaced. Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Silver spent his career in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He rose from principal to director of instruction, where he worked directly under the supervision of the district's superintendent, Garren said. He retired a year ago, but it didn't suit him. Garren said Silver returned to the district and worked as acting principal at schools where there was a vacancy or the principal was out on maternity leave. "He had a very positive effect at any school he worked at, even those he only worked at for a short period of time," Garren said. He spent a lot of time at Coldwater Canyon Elementary School. Counselors were being brought in for students there, Garren said. In addition to his son David, Silver is survived by a daughter, Michelle, and his wife, Beverly. They lived in Valencia. Garren said Silver was a big fan of USC Trojans football, enjoyed gardening and was very patriotic. Garren said the family wants to thank the Kern County Sheriff's Department and all rescue workers for their efforts. "He was loved and he'll be missed and we're hoping to bring him home soon," Garren said

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