Manuel Duarte Garcia, 79, of Dartmouth passed away Sunday, February 18, 2024 suddenly at home. He was the husband of Maria L. (Faria) Garcia, with whom he shared 59 years of marriage.
He was born in Flamengos, Faial, Açores, son of the late Francisco Duarte Garcia and Hortensia Abreu Garcia. Manuel moved from the Açores to America in 1960, where he later found residence in New Bedford. After a short period of working for St. John's Cemetery, he started his career in the construction industry in Boston at the age of 20. Manny worked in the industry for 37 years, retiring at the age of 57 from Fred Salvucci Construction as a Labor Foreman. He was a Gold member of the Laborers Union Local 22.
Besides his dedication to his work he had a passion for soccer, both on and off the field. He first joined Mt. Carmel CYO in 1961 and in the years following, he played soccer for St. Michael Club, Club Uniao Faialense, and later in life Club Luzo Autobody.
Manuel was a lifetime member of Club Uniao Faialense and the Benfica Club. He loved to meet friends at the clubs and watch sports. In addition to his many hobbies, he loved his yearly vacations with family, working in his garden, giving a helping hand to his kids, watching local sports, especially Benfica, raising animals, playing cards, dancing, and playing with his grandkids.
He is survived by his wife, Maria; two children, James Garcia and his wife Lynne, and Christine Amaral and her husband Jimmy; four grandchildren, Joseph Mawhinney, Kayla Trahan and her husband Erik, Kyle Garcia, and Jocelyn Amaral; two great-grandchildren, Liv Trahan and Hayes Trahan; and has a new great-grandbaby on the way. He is also survived by two sisters, Hortence Martins and Lucia Viera; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was predeceased by his brother, Francisco Garcia.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Burial will follow in South Dartmouth Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Wednesday from 8:30-10 AM, prior to the Mass, at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.