Obituary: Albert Sousa

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Albert Sousa

MIDDLEBURY — Albert Sousa, 90, beloved husband of Lourdes (Nobrega) Sousa, died peacefully on Nov. 23, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Mr. Sousa was born on Sept. 23, 1929 in Providence, R.I., a son of the late Porfirio and Olympia Sousa. Albert never forgot his parents; they did everything for him, as he did for them. As a child, Albert went to live in Portugal, where he attended school in Lisbon, Ribamondego and Gouveia. He enrolled in the College of Nune Alves Pereira, attended the commercial school of Rodrigo Sampaio and later earned his accounting degree at the Lisbon Institute of Commerce. After migrating to the United States, Mr. Sousa earned diplomas from Crosby High School and the Kavula Institute of Beauty and Hair Design, as well as graduating from courses in public safety and driving instruction.

He was a hardworking, generous and well-known area businessman, having owned and operated the Ideal Meat Market in Naugatuck and was a co-founder of Driving Schools, Inc. Mr. Sousa was a member of the Portuguese Sport Club, where he held various committee positions, was involved in the purchasing and moving of the actual club building and served as the club’s youngest president. In 2011, Mr. Sousa was elected secretary of the Portuguese School of the Portuguese Sport Club. Mr. Sousa was also a former member of Clube Uniao Portuguesa in Naugatuck and the Portuguese-American Political Action Committee. Mr. Sousa served as a supernumerary police officer and sheriff for the City of Waterbury for many years. A devout and faithful parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church, he was part of the organization that founded the church and served with his wife as a Eucharistic minister. He was a member of the Cursillo Group, the first one in Connecticut, and he served on the pastoral committee. Mr. Sousa served as a delegate in Connecticut for the Continental Union and was the past President of Sucurssal 30. He was the founder and radio host of “Melodies of Portugal,” a correspondent for the Diario de Noticias in Bedford, Mass., and for Luso Americano in Newark, N.J. He was the founder and president of “Os Inocentes” and on many occasions Mr. Sousa proudly represented the Portuguese government in an official capacity.

In addition to Lourdes, his loving wife of 66 years, Mr. Sousa is survived by his sons, Albert Sousa and his wife, Melody, and Jack Sousa and his wife, Sharon; his daughter, Cynthia Paolino and her husband, Paul; his grandchildren, Benjamin Sousa (Angela), Rick Sousa, Jonathan Sousa (Maria), attorney Jennifer Solberg (Thor), Dr. Jaclyn Sousa-Lombardo (Matthew), Kristen Seals (John) and Katie Walsh (Sean); his 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 2071 Baldwin St., Waterbury. Everyone attending is kindly asked to meet at church. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waterbury. Calling hours are Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Ave., Naugatuck.

In lieu of flowers and to honor Albert’s memory, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492.

To leave an online condolence, visit www.buckmillerthurstonmengacci.com.