Joseph Viveiros, Jr. passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday March 25, 2015. Joseph was the devoted husband of Fernanda (Rego) Viveiros, and son of the late Joseph and Alice (Botelho) Viveiros. Joseph began his insurance career with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company shortly after serving in the United States Navy. He served as a chief of the catapult crew on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean in the Vietnam War. Joe earned his Chartered Life Underwriter Designation (CLU) in 1974 from the American College. Over his twenty years of service with Metropolitan, Joe and his staff earned many awards and national recognition for outstanding sales and service in the life Insurance industry.
In 1977, Joe made a major career move in leaving his success at Metropolitan behind with a dream of building a business of his own. Since his humble beginning, Joe has grown Viveiros Insurance into one of the premier providers of insurance services in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, serving the needs of approximately 1,500 businesses and 15,000 individuals and families.
Joe has served as the former President for both the Somerset Underwriters Association and the Fall River Life Underwriter Association. He has taught insurance courses at Bristol Community College, for the Life Underwriter Training Council and for the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Women.
Joe has been generous in his support of the community. Over the years he has supported the United Way, the Boys and Girls Club, Junior Achievement, youth baseball, soccer and softball and local religious organizations.
Joe has been a major motorsports sponsor and team owner for more than 10 years. His racing team won the NASCAR Pro Stock Division Championship at Seekonk Speedway in both 2002 & 2003. His current Viveiros Motorsports Team is competing in the NASCAR Whelan Featherlite Modified Division.
In high school Joe played football as number 46 which is why his Viveiros Motorsports Race Car was number 46. He grew up in Somerset where he worked on his father’s vegetable farm.
In addition to his wife he is survived by his children; Lynn Valee (husband Timothy) of Cholchester VT, and Judith Simons of Keywest FL, sisters Katherine Masterson (husband Bruce) of St. Petersburg, FL, and Lorraine Phillips of Fall River, MA, grandchildren Emily, Jack, and Christien Vallee, Ashley, Meagan and Alexis Simons, and several nieces and nephews. Joseph was also the stepfather of the late Ryan Barata.
His funeral will take place from the MANUEL ROGERS & SONS FUNERAL HOME 1521 N. Main St. Fall River on TUESDAY here at 9 A.M. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial St. Thomas More Church at 10 A.M. Interment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Fall River. Calling hours on MONDAY from 5-9 P.M. www.rogersfuneral.com.