Celestino D. Macedo, age 75, of New Bedford, a person who played an important role in the civic and educational life of Southeastern Massachusetts, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, December 5, 2001.
He was the husband of the late Elizabeth A. (Heywood) Macedo, and son of the late Celestino D. and Maria Gloria (Amaral) Macedo.
Mr. Macedo was born in New Bedford and had lived in New Bedford for all of his life. He was a communicant of St. Julie Billiart Church in North Dartmouth.
In 1942, Mr. Macedo enlisted in the U.S. Navy with the help of his older brother, Dennis, who forged their parent's signatures on the enlistment papers and served during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He was a recipient of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater medal with 2 stars, the American Theater medal and the World War II Victory medal.
After his honorable discharge in 1946, Mr. Macedo worked at various jobs before enrolling in Stonehill College, where he was elected Senior Class President. He earned his Master's Degree in English Literature at Boston College, where he met the former Elizabeth Heywood, whom he married in 1955.
Mr. Macedo's teaching career began at New Bedford Tech, where he taught English Composition and a variety of other subjects. A popular and respected teacher, he moved into College Administration at Southeastern Massachusetts University in the mid-1960's, filling increasingly important administrative positions. He served as Dean of Students during some of the most tempestuous years of the late 1960's and early 1970's.
Mr. Macedo enjoyed the trust of students, faculty and administrators alike, and eventually served as Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth under then President John Brazil, before retiring in the early 1990's.
In addition to his career in education, Mr. Macedo served in a variety of civic roles and was a well-known figure in local public affairs. He served as a Trustee of the New Bedford Free Public Library, and was a member of the New Bedford Airport Commission and Harbor Commission.
An avid golfer, he was a member and former Vice-President of the Country Club of New Bedford and scored his first hole-in-one in 1999.
Survivors include his companion of 14 years, Mary Lou Foley of New Bedford; 2 sons, Robert Macedo, and his wife Marilyn, of New Bedford, and Stephen Macedo of Princeton, NJ; a daughter, Mary Beth Macedo of San Francisco, CA; his companion's daughters, Carolyn Foley Washburn of Santa Monica, CA, and Susan Foley of Watertown; a brother Dennis Macedo, and his wife Patricia, of Hingham; a sister, Stella Macedo DeMello of New Bedford; 2 grandchildren, Anne Macedo and Mary Katherine Macedo; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was the father of the late Carolyn Ann Macedo.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park Street, New Bedford, Monday, December 10, 2001, at 10:30 AM. Funeral Mass in St. Julie Billiart Church, North Dartmouth, at 11:30 AM. Visiting hours Sunday, December 9, 2001, from 4-8 PM. Interment private.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the UMass-Dartmouth Foundation for the Celestino D. Macedo Scholarship Fund, 285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747.