Star of Courage

• Awarded on: April 5, 1988
• Invested on: June 10, 1988

Late in the night of August 2, 1986, a group of people were having a party aboard a charted yacht cruising Lake Ontario between Ontario Place and Toronto Island. One man stumbled, fell over a knee-high railing into the water and was left behind in the wake. Mr. Silvestri, the owner and captain of the vessel, immediately came about and returned to find him. One of the guests threw a life-ring to the man but it fell short, so Mr. Silvestri, without a moment's thought, jumped into the dark water to attempt to rescue the victim. Another guest on the yacht dived into the water to help, and another life-ring was thrown out. By the time the vessel was able to approach close enough to the men in the water to pull them aboard, they were able to retrieve the victim and the guest who had saved him, but no trace of Mr. Silvestri could be found.