Jose Baptista

New Bedford Jose Baptista 74 of New Bedford passed away at home on Saturday July 31, 2010. He was the husband of Nazare (Machado) Baptista and son of the late Jose Americo and Ana Maria Valde. He was born in Corticos, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Portugal. He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception church. Mr. Baptista was formerly employed by Johnson and Johnson as a polisher until his retirement. He was a member of Portuguese United for Education for 25 years, serving as treasurer and committee member, where he touched many lives. He loved watching the Porto soccer team and going for walks. Being born in a small northern village in Portugal he was brought up as a hard working, un-materialistic man that understood that the greatest thing in the world was the love of your family. With that he embarked on a 4 year tour of duty which took him to India where he experienced life in a different culture. Upon his return to Portugal, he worked for the Department of Forestry. He was among the first few to receive special licenses to work with state of the art equipment in the effort to build roads to many cities and villages in the northern part of Portugal. During that time he met and married his devoted wife of 45 years. In 1973 he took his young family and moved to the U.S. in search of a better life for all, but he never forgot his beloved Portugal and visited often. He was a loving son, husband, father, brother, godfather and uncle to many but his greatest love were his granddaughters. There wasn’t a day that he didn’t see them or talk to them and it was his love for them that gave him great joy. He gave of himself freely when asked and could always be counted on to help anyone in need. He will be sorely missed by all. Survivors include his wife; his son Joe Baptista, his daughter Maria Pereira and her husband John both of New Bedford; a daughter-in-law Paula Baptista, his brother Arnaldo Alberto also of New Bedford; his sisters Ilda dos Prazers, Maria Beatriz Barros and Maria Angela Teixeira all of Portugal, his granddaughters Megan, Gillian, Alyssa and Sara. He was the brother of the late Fernando Teixeira. His funeral mass will be said 9am Wednesday at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception church. Visitation will be Tuesday 5-8 pm.Burial will be in Pine Grove cemetery