Basilio Henriques Jr.

1932 - 2024

Basilio Henriques, Jr., 91 years of age, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 1, 2024 at Fairview Commons nursing home in Great Barrington, MA.

Basil was born on September 13, 1932 in Pittsfield, MA, to Basilio Henriques, Sr., and Georgina Henriques. He was the third of five children.

Basil was a 1950 graduate of Pittsfield High School and earned a Bachelor of Science at UMass Amherst. He also worked towards a Master's Degree at Syracuse University. Basil served in the Army during the Korean War, stationed in the U.S. After his time in the military, he attended St. John's University in St. Cloud, MN. This led him to The Benedictine Monks of Weston Priory in Vermont where he was a novice for a short time. Then, a chance encounter with his future wife altered his path. He would go on to marry Jane Blair Marks, and together they had six children.

Basil was a highly respected teacher, spending the majority of his career at Mount Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown, MA. He was a member of the Pittsfield School Committee for 13 years. After retiring from his 37-year teaching career, Basil played a large role in the expansion of daughter-owned Berkshire Tour Company, where, for 14 years, he delighted thousands of guests with his knowledge, charm, and humor.

Basil had a generous and kind heart. He volunteered with Western Mass Labor Action, The Fresh Air Fund, and was a Lector at Sacred Heart Church. He was a member of a YMCA youth program, Indian Guides, whose purpose was to enhance father/son-daughter connections.

Basil took great joy in taking his family on summer camping trips to places including Cape Cod, Florida, and a most memorable 5-week RV adventure across the entire U.S.

Basil loved the Berkshires for all it had to offer. He had a larger than life personality with a booming voice and a sharp wit. His children remember him singing songs from the 30's, 40's and 50's-such as "The Red, Red Robin"-as well as chorusing Beethoven on morning car rides to school. He loved cheering loudly for his children (and their friends) at their Pittsfield High track meets.

'The Great B.Henriques' is survived by a sister Mary Martinelli of Dalton, MA; a brother Joseph Henriques of Hebron, IN; his ex-wife Jane Blair Marks Henriques of Brownville, ME and their six children and their spouses: Nancy and Richard Hickey of Stoneham, MA; Stephen and Karen Henriques of Cincinnati, OH; Charles Henriques and Vanessa Pellegrini-Henriques of Woodland Hills, CA; Jonathan Henriques and Kai Zou of Napa, CA; Christine and Jason Mark of Northampton, MA; Michael Henriques and Alyssa Conn of San Francisco, CA; as well as his nine loving grandchildren Andrew, Alex, Violet, Charlie Grace, Ian, Tristan, Alec, Christopher, and Olivia.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Services will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Pittsfield, MA at 9 am on Saturday, September 14, 2024. Following services, all are invited to the burial at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Afterwards, please join us at Zucchini's Restaurant for a reception.