Anthony J. "Butch" Fermino, 67, of New Bedford, died Monday August 10, 2009 at the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Henry and Adeline (Gomes) Fermino, he lived in New Bedford all of his life. He attended New Bedford schools and was a graduate of New Bedford Vocational High School.
Butch was formerly employed with the City of New Bedford Recreation Department where he served as the physical education leader of the department's Special Needs Program. As a result of this experience, he became a volunteer with the Massachusetts Special Olympics program and helped to coordinate various area and regional competitions. He was also a former Special Olympics World Games coach and was named "Coach of the Year."
Butch had a lifelong love with the game of football. He played football at both the Junior High and High School level, and was a member of the first football team in the history of Keith Junior High School where he connected with teammate Buddy Thomas for the team's first ever touchdown. He played semipro football for the Fairhaven Varsity Club and also served as head coach of the Whaling City Clippers of the New England Football League, helping lead the Clippers to back-to-back NEFL championships in 2007 and 2008.
Butch was best known for the many years that he spent coaching area youngsters in various sports and leagues: as an assistant football coach at New Bedford High School in the early 1970's, as the owner and coach for the Barristers Youth Football Program in the Greater New Bedford Football League, as a coach of the New Bedford Bears in the Pop Warner Football League and as head coach in the South End Youth Baseball League. Butch also coached the New Bedford Recreation team in the Bay State Youth Basketball League and directed the New Bedford Recreation Youth Basketball clinics and the Shoot Straight Basketball clinic. He also served as an official referee in the New Bedford Senior Basketball League and in several other youth and adult leagues.
He also played basketball for Our Lady of the Assumption Church in the Catholic Youth Organization, and he was the all-time leading scorer in the New Bedford Basketball Association.
He is survived by his two children, Ronda L. Fermino and Mark A. Fermino, both of New Bedford; two sisters, Barbara DePina and Bonita DeGrasse, both of New Bedford; a brother, William Fermino, Sr., of Arizona. He was the loving grandfather of Rainelle, Taylin, Alexandria, Marcus, Hanna and Lainie; and great-grandfather of Jaiden and Xavier. He was the brother of the late Joan Almeida, Robert Fermino and Henry Fermino, Jr.
His Funeral Service will be held on Saturday at 10:30 AM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Visiting hours will be Friday from 4-9 PM. For directions and guest book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.