Guillermo Silva, a Petaluma resident who had worked as a handyman in West Marin for over a decade, died of a stroke last week while on the job in Point Reyes Station. A father, husband and hardworking man who went above and beyond for his community, Mr. Silva “wasn’t just the pillar of our family—he was a pillar in our community. Always ready to lend a hand, offer a kind word, or go the extra mile to support someone in need,” his daughters, Andrea and Samantha, wrote on the GoFundMe page where they are raising money for his funeral service. A man of many talents, Mr. Silva worked as a landscaper, caretaker and carpenter. Those who knew him noted his ability to build and repair structures, making every second count. His care for the community extended beyond his professional expertise, and he developed a reputation for unflinching dependability. “I’ve never had such strong, steady, and integral support before. I always knew that Guillermo would be there for us,” said Kathy Runnion, founder of Planned Feralhood, a nonprofit committed to reducing the number of feral cats in West Marin. Mr. Silva enjoyed the company of animals, from cats to alpacas, and he helped Ms. Runnion for over a decade. “He would drop everything if there was an emergency and he was needed here, as he did during the Woodward fire,” Ms. Runnion said. One morning in August 2020, as an evacuation warning was sent out to residents under threat of the growing fire, Ms. Runnion watched as planes swooped down to combat the flames. She sought help to evacuate all 27 of her cats, and Mr. Silva led the charge, directing volunteers who showed up to lend a hand. Rounding up the felines was no easy feat. “The cats I have aren’t cats you can just pick up and put in a carrier,” Ms. Runnion explained. “I have feral cats here who you have to trap. It’s a tricky business.” Tricky or not, Mr. Silva made sure that every cat was safely sheltered in its own carrier and loaded up for transport to a barn in Nicasio. Upon arrival, Mr. Silva got to work building a structure that allowed the cats to stretch and roam. Alvaro Martinez, a family friend and coworker, said Mr. Silva was a kind and upbeat person who greeted everyone with genuine respect. “We got to know each other over 20 years,” Mr. Martinez said. “Whether at a party or wherever we would find ourselves, he would go out of his way to greet you and see how you are doing.” Mr. Martinez said they would invite each other over to share a meal and talk about life over a beer. “You don’t need to spend a lot of time with a person to get to know them,” he said. “He was a very humble person, very calm, and I think he was a good father and a good husband because the truth is that he has a beautiful family.” To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-silva-family-after-sudden-loss