Jose Antonio de Brito, nasceu em Conselho de Nossa Senhora da Luz, Sao Vicente, Cabo Verde on June 10, 1936. The only child a son of Maria de Piadade Lima, a renowned Cape Verdean Fashion Stylist and father Antonio Jose Brito was a Sea Man. After battling to live from September 2019 through December 25, 2019 he passed from respiratory failure. He transitioned on Christmas day and ascended to be an angel and sings among the ancestors.
In his early years his interests were many. As a teenager he became a life-long stamp and coin collector. He (along with friend Ulisses Carvalhal) built a boat, Gaivota at a mere 16 years old. He rowed. He studied music, opera in particular. He was known to spontaneously break out in song. He mastered many languages. He studied at Liceu de Gil Eannas, in Sao Vicente, and graduated in the1950’s. Jose more affectionately known as “Zeca” was a student of life, a beautiful mind. He loved reading and he studied philosophy, science, poetry, and culture. He loved writing and those who knew him know his trademark style was a pen in his shirt pocket and random rubber bands on his hand. As a writer he mastered calligraphy and had a beautiful signature. His love for books, ultimately lead to writing three books of his own. He enjoyed all types of cuisine and the finer things in life. He enjoyed film. Among his favorites were James Bond, Star Track and Dr. Who. He was a jokester with a very vivid imagination, a crushing wit with a touch of sarcasm. One of his favorite expressions was “Oh bolas pa”, or “Wa! es e tao spert ez eh burro”.
He lived in many countries including United States, Angola, Portugal, Brazil and his beloved homeland Cape Verde Islands. He worked at the Fazenda in Sao Vicente Cabo Verde, then the finance department in Angola in 1969 and Portugal during the early 1970s during the colonial regime. A true Patriot he loved his country and longed for his homeland with every beat of his heart. His love for his country led him to taking up cultural anthropology as a hobby. He wrote many poems denouncing the Portuguese regimes colonial domination over Cape Verde. A true intellectual, he was never biased against the Portuguese people. He was able to appreciate all cultures. As such he lived and worked many years in Portugal, where he had a family comprised of two children Jorge and Ana Cristina de Brito.
In 1979, he was contacted by an Uncle in the United States to inform him that another Uncle passed. He went to New York to convene with family. He then visited his Tia Bia Lima in Providence., RI Ultimately, he came to New Bedford, MA. It was in New Bedford where he met his wife of 40 years Edla Lopes Ferreira, “Edlita” as he called her. They fell in love and married. From his marriage he produced two children, Monica de Brito and Denise Alexandria de Brito. He also fathered Neusa Ferreira and Patricia Ferreira, two bonus children. He embraced his blended family and loved all of his children alike. He is survived by family members and close friends; Son in Law Baptista Mandlate, Eddy Lopes, several grandchildren baby Kylen 7mo, Tiago 2, Liam Totti 2, Anaya Lucia 3, Lia-Gianna 4, Daniela 8, Kaya 19 (aka Kaya-Jones per Pai), Angelica 19 and Joshua 25. Honorable mention to his beloved nephew; Celso Ferreira, sister in law Salette Ferreira, Vicencia Ferreira, Brother in law Jorge Dos Santos, cousins Calu Goncalves and Emidio Lima. Life-time friends Abel Eurico Pires Ferreira, Mario Fruzoni, Carlos Carvalhal, Leocadia Almeida, Joe Rocha, Maria Brandao Soares and Miguel Soares.
The family of Jose De Brito, wishes to express their appreciation and gratitude to all that have demonstrated their love by way of comforting expressions, prayers, calls, flowers, cards, donations, food and above all visits. He was a gregarious man and loved sitting and chatting with people.
And To you Zeca Obrigada, ja no fca que tchau sodad de bo, ate no encontra outra vez.
His funeral service will be held Friday, January 3, 2020 at 12 noon at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Visitation will be Friday from 10 AM – 12 noon, prior to the service. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com