Honorable August C. Taveira , 95, of New Bedford died September 9, 2008 at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness.
He was the husband of the late Kathleen M. (Carroll) Taveira.
Born in New Bedford on February 4, 1913, the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Taveira, he lived in Dartmouth and New Bedford all of his life.
He graduated New Bedford High School, attended Providence College and graduated Boston University School of Law in 1940.
Judge Taveira was appointed Presiding Judge of Third District Court in 1949 and appointed Justice of Massachusetts Superior Court in 1958 serving until his retirement on February 4, 1983. Prior to retirement from the Superior Court as Senior Justice, he served as Secretary to the Justices of the Court and was the first selected to serve as Regional Administrative Justice of Region III, comprising Bristol and neighboring counties, which project was adopted and is still in effect throughout the Commonwealth. Judge Taveira held court in every Superior Courthouse in the Commonwealth. After retirement as a judge, he served as court-appointed conciliator for several years and also served on occasion as court-appointed master of trial cases. He additionally served as arbitrator and mediator for several alternative dispute resolution agencies until complete retirement in 1991.
Judge Taveira was a member of the New Bedford Country Club, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge #73 and the Knights of Columbus.
He was a communicant and usher at St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth.
Judge Taveira was a former member of the New Bedford School Committee, the Democratic State Committee, and in 1948, the year that President Truman was elected, served as a member of the Electoral College representing this area.
In 1982, he was selected by New Bedford Chapter of the Prince Henry Society as Man of the Year.
As a youth, he was a member of the 1929 American Legion State Champion Baseball Team. At the 50th anniversary thereof, he and surviving members of the team attended a Red Sox game at Fenway Park where he had the distinction of throwing the first ball to catcher Carlton Fisk.
Survivors include a daughter, Ann C. Trahan and her husband Paul R. Trahan of Acushnet; granddaughters Kathleen DeTerra and Laura DeMello, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson; a niece and three nephews.
He was the brother of the late Armand R. Taveira and Arthur W. Taveira.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home For Funerals, 495 Park St. New Bedford Monday, September 15th at 9 AM. Funeral Mass at St. Mary's Church at 10 AM. Burial will follow in South Dartmouth Cemetery. Visiting hours Sunday, September 14th from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Acushnet Lions Club 799 Main St. Acushnet, MA 02743.