Antonio F. DaCruz Jr.

Antonio Ferreira DaCruz, Jr., husband of the late Rose (Testaverde) DaCruz, of Gloucester, passed away at Addison Gilbert Hospital on Wednesday evening March 5, 2015 due to a brief illness. He smiled and said goodbye to all his loving family. Tony was born in Ilhavo, Portugal on July 4, 1923 as the youngest child and only son to the late Antonio F. DaCruz, Sr. and Deolinda P. DaCruz. He remembered his childhood in Ilhavo with affection and fondness. He delighted in being the family prankster, however, Tony had a much kinder side and often asked his mother to include less fortunate friends to dinner. As a teenager, he attended Coimbra University for aviation but his dream was to come to America which he did in 1942. He joined his father and Uncle the day he arrived in Gloucester on the family vessel, the "Barbara C." He became highly skilled and respected in fishing and working as engineer of the heavy duty diesel engines for 21 years. His favorite boat was the vessel "Sunlight" but the fishing he most enjoyed was sword fishing on the "Evelina M. Goulart" which in that era was harpooning. Out of the 14 vessels of his fishing career between Gloucester and New Bedford he recently related to his daughter to remember his love of his families' vessels: "Linda B.", "Our Lady of Fatima", "Govenor L. Smith", "Alvin T. Fuller" of Gloucester and "Janet and Jean" and the "Sylvia R." of NewBedford. In 1948 Tony married the most beautiful lady he ever met, Rose M. Testaverde, the love of his life. To be close to his family, he changed his interest and started to work at Gorton's in 1963 and attended Northeastern University for Electrical Engineering. In 1965 he was employed at the Gloucester Marine Railways. He oversaw the building of their ammonia refrigeration plant, "the Ice House" and iced up the Gloucester fishing fleet for 27 years. He was known on the water-front as "Tony the Ice Man". He retired at the age of 69. Tony was recognized for courage and valor and received a commendation metal from the city of Gloucester for saving a 2 yr. old girl who had fallen into the harbor at Gorton's during the winter of 1963. He was also recognized as a self-taught man with many talents and interests – someone who could work on automotive mechanics; electrical; plumbing; carpentry and fabricated his own tools for marine specialty work on outdrives. He could fix it all. His interests never swayed from the sea as he always enjoyed fishing for years on his 24' Cutty-Cabin boat, the "Andiamo" (Let's Go) or just having lunch and boating around the island with his wife Rose. He also had a hand in founding the Cape Ann Striper Club back in the 60's. He had natural talent at playing almost all instruments particularly strings playing for years as lead guitar both professionally and gigs with many friends. He brought from Portugal his love of flight and flew Piper planes numerous times in our area with his Pilot friend. He enjoyed cultivating his prolific vegetable garden, roses, fruit trees and his beautiful house plants. He loved wild life - hunting in his earlier years, always feeding the birds and being visited by his favorite, the humming birds. He was rarely seen without his dogs over the years. His greatest enjoyment was time spent with his loving family and the raucous family and friend gatherings that happened so numerously they can't be counted. All of us who had the privilege to know and love Tony will sorely miss his endless stories, generosity, warmth, humor, and even his pranks. We celebrate his life! He is survived by his daughter, Linda DaCruz, son, Antonio DaCruz III and his partner Patricia Barriero, son, Joseph DaCruz, grandson, Antonio DaCruz 4th and his wife Caitlyn (Williams), his great-granddaughter, Isabella Rose DaCruz, his great-grandson Evan Antonio DaCruz, his sister Arlinda Parracho of Portugal and his brother-in-law, Anthony Testaverde and wife Jean and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends too numerous to mention. He also leaves behind his cherished furry companions Sheba and Pita. He is predeceased by his wife Rose M. (Testaverde) DaCruz and sister Maria (DaCruz) Rato of Fairhaven, MA. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 14th in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 9:30 a.m. Extended family and friends are cordially invited to attend. A reception will follow the funeral mass at the DES Club, Prospect Street. All are welcome. There are no visiting hours. Arrangements are being conducted by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. For online condolences, please visit greelyfunerahome.com.