Obituary: Valentim F. Tavares

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Valentim F. Tavares

NAUGATUCK — Mr. Valentim F. Tavares, 80, of Cliff Street, Naugatuck, passed away on Saturday, June 11, at Saint Mary’s Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Belmira (DaSilva) Tavares.

 
Mr. Tavares was born in Murstosa, Portugal on Oct. 13, 1930, a son of the late Valentim F. and Albertina (Tavares) Tavares.

He emigrated from Portugal to the Newark, N.J. then moved to Naugatuck where he lived for the past 39 years. While living in Portugal, he was a professional soccer player for the Belenences soccer team and was also one of the former owners of Auto Viacao da Murtosa. In the U.S., he worked for Murtha Enterprises and was a retiree of Ansonia Copper and Brass where he worked for many years. He was a member of Clube União Portuguesa and a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Besides his wife, he leaves his son, Fernando V. Tavares of Naugatuck; his daughter, Gina M. Cunha and her husband Manuel of Rahway, N.J.; his two grandsons, Dominic, 4, and Cristiano Cunha, 2; his sister, Maria Alice Tavares of Portugal; his niece, Sandra DaSilva; his two nephews, Manuel Soares and Henry DaSilva.

Mr. Tavares was predeceased by his sister, Albertina “Tina” Soares.

His funeral will be held on Wednesday, June 15, at 10:15 a.m. from the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church St., Naugatuck for a mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m. Entombment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Platt Road, Watertown. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday from 6 p.m. 8 p.m.

To send an on-line condolence visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.