Manuel B. Calado

Manuel B. Calado, age 99, of New Bedford, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of the late Evelyn (Rose) Calado with whom he shared 53 years of marriage and the late Maria De Fatima Martins.

Born in Soza,Vagos, mainland Portugal, he was the son of the late Manuel Nunes Calado Brito and Felicidade (Conceicao).

Since immigrating from Portugal to New Bedford in 1948, Calado has been a major figure in the local Portuguese media, keeping the community informed and shaping public opinion through his radio and newspaper commentaries. Through his civic involvement in other organizations he has also played a role in promoting education and civic engagement among the Portuguese in the U.S.

In early 1950, together with Antonio Alberto Costa, he established the weekly Portuguese radio program known as "Ecos de Portugal." Broadcasting from WBSM, it began as a two-hour program airing on Sundays. It eventually became a daily program until 1970 when WBSM-FM became a full-time Portuguese station with the call letters WGCY-FM.

Subsequently, after being acquired by the late Edmund Dinis, the station became WJFD, which continues today as an integral link to the Portuguese community, broadcasting world and local news.

Manuel continued to be a regular voice heard by the listeners of WJFD until 2013, when he retired at the age of 90.

His involvement with the printed media also started in the 1950s when he became the editor of the Portuguese Daily News, a position he held until its closing.

Although published in New Bedford, the newspaper had correspondents in all major areas of Portuguese settlement in the U.S., and its readership reached as far west as California and as far east as Portugal.

In the 1950's, in collaboration with Dr. Laurinda Andrade, Calado instituted the "Sociedade Pedagógica," awarding scholarships to students of Portuguese heritage.

In 2000 he helped to fund and support the program know as "Cidadão 2000”which was established by his wife, Fátima Martins. The program helped more than 4,000 Portuguese immigrants become U.S. citizens.

In 2009 he received the "Ordem de Mérito," an award from the Portuguese government, recognizing his lifelong contributions to the Portuguese who live outside Portugal.

In 2011 The Prince Henry Society, New Bedford chapter, honored him as its Person of the Year .

Manuel was an incredible human being who adored his family. He loved his garden and sharing his tomatoes with family and friends. He enjoyed his daily walks, reading , writing and publishing his poetry.

Manuel was blessed with a long happy life with family and friends who loved him dearly. He will be forever in our hearts. Forever our hero.

He is survived by his loving daughters, Carol Barton and her husband Paul of New Bedford and Kathryn Calado of New Bedford; Daughter in Law, Dianne Moreira of Taunton; Five grandchildren, David Moreira, Darin Moreira and his wife Candy, April Moreira, Jeffrey Lessa , Jason Lessa and his wife Alyssa; Six great-grandchildren, Ashley Aadland-Lessa and her wife Paige, Amanda Moreira, Kimberly Moreira, Catin Moreira, Parker Lessa, Jameson Lessa, and many nieces and nephews. Manuel is also survived by his late wife Fatimas siblings Cisaltina Martins, Alda Maria Barron, Maria Isabel Melo and Colonel John B. Martins. Manuel was predeceased by his step son Armand Moreira, his brother Antonio Brito and sister Maria da Conceicao Brito.

His funeral mass will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 10:00am in St. Lawrence Martyr Church, 565 County St., New Bedford, MA 02740. Everyone is to go directly to the church. Burial is Private. His visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 14, 2022 from 5:00 – 8:00pm in the WARING-SULLIVAN HOME AT DARTMOUTH, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101, www.stjude.org