Guilherme Tony Pires Monteiro

MAY 12, 1913 - JUNE 13, 2011

Guilherme Pires Monteiro passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, June 13th at the

age of 98. Affectionately known as “Tony” to his American friends and as “Antoninho di

Julia” in the Cape Verdean community, he was the father of 11 children, 16 grandchildren and

eight great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by three of his children, five siblings and is

survived by his brother Joao and his wife of seventy one years, Benvinda Rodrigues Miranda

Monteiro, 95. He was born in Freguesia de Santa Catarina, Figueira Pavao, Fogo, Cape Verde.

He was the son of Antonio Pires Monteiro and Julia Pereira Monteiro.

He was the beloved father of Juvenal (Tony) Monteiro of Scituate, Catherine Monteiro

Barbosa of East Bridgewater and her husband John Peter Barbosa, Maria Monteiro Jenkins of

Lynn, Manuel Monteiro and his wife Susan Ingram Monteiro of Norwell, John Monteiro and

his wife Karen Monteiro of Plymouth, Elario (Eddy) Monteiro of Los Angeles, California,

Peter Monteiro of Scituate and Luizinha Maria Daluz Monteiro of Brockton. He was also the

father of the late Fernando Monteiro of Scituate, the late Augusto Monteiro of Southington, CT

and the late Anna Monteiro of Scituate. He was predeceased by his sister Guilhermina Ribeiro

and by his brothers Manuel, Viriato, Beirao, and Joaquim. Tony was a construction worker for

Allan R. Wheeler Company, Inc. for many years in Scituate, Massachusetts. After retirement,

he spent over 30 years growing and selling fresh fruits and vegetables in Scituate, Mass.

Tony arrived in the United States at the age of 43 in 1956, leaving behind 8 children and his

mother, whom he never saw again. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1965, one of the

happiest days of his life. Shortly after becoming a citizen, he initiated what was to become his

legacy in life; opening the gateway to America for several of his brothers, sister, and countless

others. Because of his efforts, hundreds of Cape Verdeans were able to navigate the

immigration system to take part in the American dream. He was a very generous man of faith,

hope, love, selflessness and of family values.

For a man of modest means, Tony never gave up an opportunity to help someone in need. In

Cape Verde, he ran a small general store at a time when most of the people had no

employment and where famine was rampant due to sustained periods of drought. His genuine

care for others led him to provide help to people who had no means of support and who likely

would not have survived without his help. He fed an entire community by extending credit to

all in need knowing that he would never be repaid.

Once working in the U.S., he continued with his generosity by regularly sending remittances to

his siblings, his mother, and those in need that were left behind in Cape Verde. In 1959, he

fulfilled his dream of bringing his children to America with a goal of providing them with a

better life, an education and a better future. His selflessness was also evident in his willingness

to sponsor many relatives to emigrate to the United States and to assist them once they arrived

by co-signing loans so they could purchase homes. Although he was not a regular church-

goer, as he tended to work seven day weeks, he was indeed a God-fearing Christian man of

faith. He put his responsibilities to his family above all and was never concerned with his own

needs.

He was not only generous with his finances, but he was selfless and generous in his genuine

love for all of his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends and

relatives. Whenever there was an opportunity to help or assist causes that support the hungry

or the poor, even in the latter stage of his life, he always found it in his heart to donate

whatever he could.

His personal interests included a love of nature, especially birds, farming and sharing the

harvest with his many friends, family members, relatives and even strangers.

Through his examples, he leaves behind for family and friends a high standard of selfless

devotion, generosity, and friendship. May he rest in peace.