Joseph Gomes “Joe” Camacho, Jr. passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2018 at the Royal of Fairhaven Nursing Home after a long illness. Joe was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on May 29, 1928 to the late Jose and Augusta (Fernandes) Camacho. He is survived by his brother Vasco Camacho of Charleston, South Carolina, his son James of Fairhaven, Massachusetts and his dear loving friend Beverly Reed of Rochester, Massachusetts along with six nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Patricia (Carey) Camacho, his son Michael Camacho, his brother, Dr. Manuel Camacho and his sister, Leanor Camacho.
Joe was educated in the New Bedford Public School system graduating from New Bedford High School in 1946 and he later received Bachelor and Masters degrees’ in Education from Bridgewater State College graduating as an undergraduate in 1959. Upon leaving high school Joe worked at various corporations in New Bedford before and during his professional baseball career which began with his signing with the St. Louis Browns organization as a free agent in 1947. He played three years in that organization at the minor league level until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1951. He served in occupied Germany during his two year tenure in the service with a replacement battalion and he also played baseball for the Rhine Military Post. The Rhine Military Post won the Army World Series Europe in 1951 and Joe was voted the Most Valuable Player of the series. Upon discharge from the Army in late 1952 Joe re-started his baseball career with his contract being purchased by the Cleveland Indians. Joe played the 1953 season with the Fargo-Morehead Twins of the Northern League along with his teammate hometown hero Roger Maris. The Twins won the Northern League in 1953 and Joe was a Northern League All Star and led the league in runs scored. Joe and Roger were later promoted to Keokuk, Iowa in 1954 and later to Reading, Pennsylvania in 1955 where the Reading Indians won the Eastern League Championship. Joe played one more year with Reading in 1956 and then finished his professional playing career in Mobile, Alabama in 1957.
Joe began his education career at the Donaghy Elementary School and later progressing to the Assistant Principal position at the Hathaway Elementary School later becoming the Principal at the Ottiwell Elementary School, the elementary school of his youth, from 1965 to 1969. He continued his education career in 1973 becoming the principal of the Campbell Elementary School and he would retire from that school in 1986.
Joe’s education career did not keep him away from his interest in baseball as he worked summers from 1962 to 1968 at the Ted Williams Baseball Camp in Lakeville, Massachusetts as the baseball director. He would then embark on a career in the Major Leagues with the Washington Senators (1969-71) and Texas Rangers (1972) when Ted was hired as the manager of those teams and made Joe the first bench coach in the 100 year history of Major League Baseball.
Joe was recognized for his prowess in baseball and basketball, having played on the 1946 State Champion New Bedford High School basketball team, with induction into the New Bedford High School Hall of Fame in 1999. Joe’s knowledge of basketball extended to his becoming an official in the early 1960’s at the high school level and later he refereed major college basketball games throughout New England until 1973.
Joe enjoyed the quiet company of his family and friends, dining out on Saturday nights, playing golf and looking for golf balls at Whaling City Golf Course where he won the 1978 Invitation Fourball with partner Mike Silva, frequent trips to Foxwoods Resort Casino with his dear friends Stanley and Wally Gaj, and watching sports, especially baseball and especially all of the Boston teams. Joe will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, December 31, 2018 10 AM at St. Joseph Church in Fairhaven. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday December 30, 2018 from 5-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.