Curtis L. Lopes, 88, of Fairhaven died June 7, 2015 at the Royal of Fairhaven surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of the late Myra A. (Powers) Lopes, with whom he had shared 58 years of marriage.
Born in New Bedford, son of the late Frank and Lilian (Nicklas) Lopes, he lived in Fairhaven his entire life. Mr. Lopes was a graduate of Fairhaven High School, class of 1943, attended Dartmouth College and received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from UMass-Amherst, class of 1950. Upon college graduation, he went to work at Cornell-Dubilier Electronics beginning as a chemist and had a career that spanned fifty years and many executive roles.
Active in many local organizations, Mr. Lopes served on the Millicent Library Board of Trustees and the Fairhaven Improvement Association Board, was a Fairhaven Town Meeting member, and former chairperson and member for over twenty years of the Fairhaven Board of Appeals. He also served on the Fairhaven Fire Department Building Committee, the Harbor Redevelopment Commission, the International Management Council of Plant Engineer's, was co-chairman of the Fairhaven Homecoming Day Fair from 1995 to 2008, and for many years was involved in Junior Achievement.
Mr. Lopes and his late wife Myra were selected as Couple of the Year in Fairhaven in 2010, and they shared the Fairhaven Improvement Association Outstanding Committee Service Award in 1995. An avid golfer, he belonged to Little Marion Golf Club. He loved sailing, woodworking, reading and traveling.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Survivors include his son, Dennis Lopes of Tampa, FL; 3 daughters, Sherry Lopes and her husband Bud Wilson, Kathy Lopes and Becky Alix Lopes, all of Fairhaven; a brother-in-law, Edward Loughlin of Fairhaven; a sister-in-law, Athena Demers of Newport, RI; 6 beloved grandchildren, Stephanie Ladd and her husband Kevin of Northwood, NH, David Wilson of Fairhaven, Ashley Lopes and Amy Lopes, both of Mesquite, TX, and Dustin Lopes and Donovan Lopes, both of Denver, CO; 8 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandsons; and numerous loving nieces and nephews.
He was the father of the late Curtis L. Lopes II, and brother of the late Carlene Horne.
On behalf of Curtis Lopes, his family wishes to thank the entire staff of the Royal of Fairhaven for their compassionate care and many kindnesses shown during his short stay, Fidelis Hospice and the Community Nurse and Hospice of Fairhaven for their care during the last 3 years.
His Funeral will be held on Thursday, June 11th at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by his Funeral Mass at St. Joseph's Church, Fairhaven at 10 AM. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday, June 10th from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Fairhaven Dollars for Scholars Curtis L. Lopes Memorial Scholarship, c/o Dan Waltz, Southern Mass. Credit Union, 123 Alden Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719.