Joseph Vitorino Silva

José Vitorino Silva, age 91, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, CA. He was born on April 21, 1926 in the small town of Santo Amaro on the island of Pico in Açores, Portugal to parents José Vitorino da Silva and Maria da Costa da Silva.

As a young boy, José showed a natural talent for carpentry, which was his life’s passion. By the age of 12, he could be found with a knife in hand carving small boats out of wood and experimenting with them on the island banks. At age 14, he began working as an Assistant Carpenter to his Tio José Costa. By the age of 25, he had designed and constructed ten fishing boats under his name.

José spent two years in the Portuguese military, based in Faial, before moving in 1951 to Praia da Vitória, Terceira, where he began working in carpentry for the American Military Base. By 1958, he was promoted to Superintendent of Constructional Engineers.

In 1954, José began courting Carlota Mesquita da Rosa after getting to know each other at their siblings’, Cristiano Garcia and Evelina Silva da Rosa’s, wedding. José and Carlota were married a year later, on February 7, 1955, and their only son, José Alberto, was born on January 5, 1958.

José immigrated to San Diego in 1959 with his wife and son, and as he became acclimated to the English language, he worked in general construction until he was able to work on boats again for Campbell Industries. By 1982, he had designed and constructed over 30 tuna fishing vessels. His exceptional talent was recognized in such a way that he was considered one of the greater contributors in the technological advancement of the tuna fishing industry, not only in San Diego but also on an international level. In 1970, the largest fishing vessel on the Western Seaboard was his design, Ocean Queen. In 1975, his model of José Madruga’s Madrugador was presented to the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. He was recognized by the Portuguese government in 1982, given the title “Comendador da Ordem do Mérito Industrial” (Commander by Order of Merit – Industrial).

José was also passionate about his local Portuguese community in San Diego, becoming one of the founding members and President of Aliança Acoreana, President and member of the U.P.E.C. Council #69 and Vice President of the United Portuguese S.E.S. Hall alongside President Mary Alice Gonsalves. He was also a member of the Cabrillo Civic Club #16 and the Portuguese-American Social and Civic Club. He took great pride in his Portuguese heritage and preserving it for his son and grandchildren.

José’s deep-rooted passion for design not only shown through in his professional endeavors, but carried through to his favorite pastimes. Most days, he could be found in his garage workshop hand carving wood models of boats, wine presses, flour and wind mills, and many other traditional scenes of his homeland. He would even carve toys for his grandchildren. He and his wife enjoyed crafting traditional capes together for the Festa do Espírito Santo and Festa da Santíssima Trinidade in San Diego.

Above all else, José’s greatest joy was found in his family. He cherished fishing and hunting trips with his son and grandsons, and passing on his wisdom. He treasured his four grandchildren and two great granddaughters more than life itself. He looked forward to spending summers in Açores with his wife and grandchildren, so proudly introducing them to the life he lived before coming to America.

José Vitorino is preceded in death by his parents José Vitorino and Maria da Costa da Silva, his sisters Durvalina Silva and Maria Delores Silva de Melo (Joe de Melo), and granddaughter Jocelyn Marie Silva. He is survived by his wife Carlota Silva, son Joseph Albert Silva (Dina Silva), grandchildren Jennifer Silva-Reis (John Reis), Joseph Albert Silva, Jr. and Justin Silva, great-granddaughters Gwendolyn Reis and Olivia Reis, sister Evelina da Rosa (Cristiano da Rosa-deceased), brother Alberto Costa Silva (Maria Jose Silva), and many of his beloved nephews and nieces.