‘An admirable man': Joseph Silva, coordinator of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of N.E., dies

DARTMOUTH - Joseph P. Silva, general coordinator of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England and leader of several Portuguese-American organizations, died unexpectedly on Monday, July 15 at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. He was 72 years old.

The news of his death generated a wave of tributes on social media, with government officials and numerous individuals expressing their sadness and recognition for his work on behalf of the community.

“Joseph was an admirable man, a true doer and a great friend, always dedicated to his community and to Portugal. Peace to the soul of this great man!” said the Secretary of State for the Portuguese Communities, José Cesário , recalling he last saw Joseph Silva during his recent visit to the United States this past June.

José Andrade, Regional Director for Communities of the Government of the Azores , also paid tribute to the memory of José Silva.

“He will be greatly missed,” wrote José Andrade on his Facebook page.

Herberto Silva, president of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England, echoed this sentiment.

“He will be greatly missed by many,” Herberto Silva told O Jornal. “The Holy Ghost of Fall River will never be the same without him. He gave 100%. He worked very hard to make sure that everything runs smoothly. He will be a great loss to the Portuguese community, especially to the Holy Ghost feasts of forever.”

Márcia da Ponte, Councilor for the Portuguese Communities and Councilor for the Azorean Diaspora and vice-president of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England, said there are no words to describe the sadness she feels.

“Losing a friend like Joe makes me feel like an orphan all over again,” said da Ponte, who shares the same birthplace as Joseph Silva.

“Joe was from Rabo de Peixe and that's why we've always shared this special relationship of closeness, friendship and almost fatherhood, as he gave me advice and guidance as soon as he could,” she said. “I always saw him involved in activities and linked to organizations and music bands, always with a sense of responsibility and commitment to the public cause. Anyone who had the chance to spend time with him could testify to his high sense of responsibility and work.”

Born in Rabo de Peixe, São Miguel Island, Azores, Silva emigrated to the United States in 1967, living in Fall River for several years before moving to Dartmouth.

He was a mechanic and contractor before founding his own business, Silva Construction Co., Inc., working there until his retirement.

He gave his time and talent to many community organizations, events and great causes.

He was president of the Amigos de Rabo de Peixe, president of the Irmandade do Senhor Bom Jesus da Vila de Rabo de Peixe, president of the General Assembly of the Banda de Santo António de Fall River and president of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England, as well as a member of many organizations that were dear to his heart.

da Ponte said Silva “had a strong personality and was a natural leader,” but he also “had a big heart.”

“It was only because he was big and strong that he was able to carry out the projects he was involved in,” she stressed. “Anyone who takes on public responsibilities or gets involved and takes on positions of responsibility must act in a certain way and make decisions, sometimes not to the liking of many and creating some not-so-good feelings, but you must have the courage and resilience to stand firm. It’s not because Joe has gone that he’s now an important person. Joe is a special man. He marked the lives of each and every one of us. With his departure, our community is poorer; I am poorer.”

His funeral will be held on Saturday, July 20, at 8 a.m. from the Silva-Faria Funeral Home, 730 Bedford St., Fall River. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Espírito Santo Church in Fall River at 9 a.m. Visitation will take place on Friday, July 19 in the Silva-Faria Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. The interment will take place in Notre Dame Cemetery in Fall River.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: ‘An admirable man': Joseph Silva, coordinator of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of N.E., dies