Jose "Joe" Antao Sequeira

Jose “Joe” Antao Sequeira departed this life on Sunday, July 31, 2022, at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, in Livingston, NJ, at the age of 90. His is the story of an immigrant who achieved the American Dream.

Born on August 8, 1931, as the only child of José Martins Antão and Maria da Boa Hora Sequeira, natives of Algarve, Portugal, he departed Portugal at only 18 years of age, alone, to explore the countries of the Western Hemisphere. After briefly visiting and working in many countries--Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, and Cuba--he chose America.

At 19 years of age, he met and married a Portuguese American, Mary Beverly Salgado, who was born in the U.S.A. They were married for seventy-two (72) years, until his passing. For the last twenty-eight years, they resided in Livingston, New Jersey.

A natural born leader, he excelled in the construction industry and was employed by one of the largest American construction companies. But when they sought to transfer themselves and Joe to Panama, Joe refused to leave America and left the company instead.

He then formed his own construction company, C.S. & Sons Construction Co., Inc., which he operated for many years until his retirement in the1990s.

He retained his love of travel and exploration throughout his life, and he loved to visit Portugal and neighboring countries every year, often with his American friends. He also maintained ties to the

Portuguese-American community in New Jersey and was a member of several social clubs and charities.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Beverly Salgado Sequeira, his son Roger S. Antao and his partner, Enna Chuang, both Attorneys in New York and New Jersey; his son Joseph S. Antao, a Computer Specialist, and his wife, Tobey E. Antao, a Literary Editor; and his granddaughter, Matilda A. Antao.