Carlos Magalhaes Fernandes Moca

Carlos Magalhaes Fernandes Moça, was born on April 7, 1948, in Vitoria, Espirito Santo, Brazil, and passed away peacefully at home on April 28, 2024. He was the son of Carlos and Emilia and the oldest of five. Carlos studied civil engineering at the Universidade Federal de Espirito Santo and came to the United States to get his master's degree in structural engineering from the University of South Carolina, where he met the love of his life, Katherine ("Kathy") Helene Vanderwerff.
Carlos lived with Kathy for a few years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and then moved to Greenville in 1976. He was dedicated to his community, including volunteering at the YMCA, Gower Pool, St. Mary's School, and JL Mann High School. He enjoyed a successful career as an engineer at Jacobs Engineering and made many close friends there. He was a patient soccer and basketball coach, and an avid sports fan, with undying loyalty to Gamecocks football, the Brazilian national soccer team, and his soccer club of Vasco da Gama. He was also an athlete himself, enjoying the games of golf and tennis with his friends and family.
He was devoted to his Brazilian and American families. He valued hard work and never met a stranger. He was both a teacher and a lifelong learner. He was proud of his adopted homeland, a true patriot who built his own American Dream. He often spoke of his tremendous gratitude for those who made him feel welcome when he first arrived in the United States. He embraced the best of southern culture, especially the music, the food and southern hospitality.
Carlos always exuded gratitude for the life he had. He loved traveling with his family, celebrating with friends, the challenges of his career, house projects and yard work, and teaching his kids valuable life lessons. He was a man of humility, joy, and dedication, and he will be missed dearly by all who were fortunate to know him.
Carlos is survived by his wife, Kathy, his three children, Anna (Frank Randazzo), Emilie (Brian Whitaker), and Steven (Anna Belle "Boo" Kibler), his five grandchildren, Olivia Randazzo, Mia Randazzo, Virginia Whitaker, Henry Moça, and William Moça, and his siblings Fatima (Mike Fusz), Henrique (Jane), Jose (Maria Helena), and Virginia (Renato Casagrande), and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Emilia, and father, Carlos.
His family would also like to mention our gratitude to the wonderful people of Agape Hospice who guided us through this difficult time.
Carlos's family will receive friends at Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, Downtown, on Friday, May 3, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The Burial Office will be celebrated on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church with Committal immediately following at the church's columbarium.
Carlos was a lifelong enjoyer and supporter of Greenville's beautiful public parks. If you would like to make a memorial donation to Unity Park in Greenville, please visit https://unityparkgreenville.com/1869/Donate
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