Gary Francis Silc

He was born on September 20, 1940, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, to Frank and Minnie Silc, and lived a life defined by adventure, integrity, and deep devotion to family.

Gary grew up in Sudbury and graduated from Sudbury High School, where he quickly distinguished himself as a gifted athlete. Though his Slovenian family “forced” him to play the accordion-much to his lifelong dismay-he embraced many other pursuits with enthusiasm. He earned the rank of Queen Scout, Canada’s equivalent of Eagle Scout, and excelled in hockey, track and field, and especially basketball. Standing 6’8ã with a size 16 shoe, he was the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. He was named to the All-Ontario High School Basketball All-Star Team in both 1958 and 1959.

After high school, Gary was recruited by Paul Thomas, coach of Canada’s 1952 Olympic basketball team, to attend college in the United States on a basketball scholarship. He accepted-and hitchhiked across Canada to Seattle, then down the West Coast to California-to attend California State University, Northridge (then San Fernando Valley State College).

Missing Canada but determined to earn his degree, Gary transferred after two years to Northern Michigan University at the urging of legendary coach Stan Albeck. As he later recalled, “I told my mom and dad, ‘I don’t know where Northern Michigan University is, but I’m not coming home until I get a degree.'” He graduated in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, earned All-American honors, and was later inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame.

During the 1962­63 season, Gary was drafted to play for the Detroit Pistons, becoming the first Canadian-born player in NBA history. After his professional basketball career, he used his NBA earnings to pursue law school, continuing to play semi-professional basketball in the Eastern Professional Basketball League and the North American Basketball League. He declined an opportunity to try out for the Canadian national team to focus on his studies at Marquette University Law School, a decision he summed up simply: “I have no regrets.” He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1969.

Gary was married for 58 years to the love of his life, Julie Morgan Gingrass of Marquette, Michigan. She first caught his eye as a beauty queen, crowned Miss Upper Peninsula and Miss Congeniality at the Miss Michigan Pageant in 1961.

After becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, Gary and Julie settled in Ironwood, where he embraced the Upper Peninsula and Northwoods way of life with his whole heart. He joined the law firm of Jack Jacobs and David McDonald, later becoming a partner at Jacobs, McDonald & Silc. Licensed in both Michigan and Wisconsin, Gary practiced law for more than 50 years, retiring in 2017. He was widely respected for his professionalism, fairness, and unwavering integrity.

An avid outdoorsman, Gary earned the rare and prestigious Super 25 of North American Game Award from the Grand Slam Club Ovis. His trophy collection was legendary. He was also a remarkable endurance athlete, completing more than 50 full marathons, numerous triathlons, bike races including the Firehouse 50, and long-distance ski races such as the Birkebeiner and Kortelopet. The one sport that consistently humbled him, he would admit with a grin, was tennis-largely because Julie, a former University of Michigan player, never let him win.

A lifelong adventurer, Gary earned his private pilot’s license and enjoyed recreational flying. He also loved his dogs-German Shepherds and Brittany Spaniels-and spent countless joyful days bird hunting alongside them.

He was active in many local organizations including the Ironwood-Hurley Rotary Club and the Superior Range Sportsman’s Club.

In his later years, Gary generously volunteered with Gogebic Range Hospice Services, offering both legal guidance and personal comfort to individuals and families during their final days.

Above all else, Gary was a devoted family man. He deeply loved his daughter, Dr. Jennifer Silc, and took immense pride in her accomplishments as a periodontist. He rarely missed one of her sporting events, even spending many weekends gatekeeping in subzero Upper Peninsula temperatures to support her love of alpine ski racing. He adored his son-in-law, Dr. Bryan Nakfoor, an orthodontist, and his grandchildren, Morgan and Grant Nakfoor, of Inverness, Illinois, who affectionately teased their “Pappy” about his favorite color being brown-“No one likes brown, Pappy!”

He is also survived by his siblings, Gloria Aykroyd, Linda Paul (who still insists she is the best athlete in the family), Frank Silc and many nieces and nephews as well as his dear friend, Helen Slining. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Julie Morgan Silc, and his son, Andrew Morgan Silc.

Gary will be remembered for his strength, kindness, quick wit, and his guiding life motto: “If you start something, you have to finish it-never be a quitter.” His commitment to family, community, and the outdoors leaves a legacy that will endure in the hearts of all who knew him.

At Gary’s request, private family memorial services will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Marquette this summer.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of his late son, Andrew Morgan Silc.

To view the obituary and share condolences, please visit lakesidememorialchapel.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., Wakefield, Michigan.