Manuel Fernando Neto

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES

Manuel Fernando Neto

• Born on August 29, 1942, in Faial Island, Açores.
• Son of João Moniz Neto and Filomena Alice Andrade.
• Immigrated to the United States, January 1960.
• Educated at New Bedford High School, S.M.U. (Umass Dartmouth) and Brown University of Providence, RI.
• Elected to the New Bedford City Council in 1971 and re-elected in 1973 and 1975.
• Elected President of the New Bedford City Council in 1977.
• Co-founded the Immigrants Assistance Center of New Bedford, MA in 1972.
• Co-led movement to create Bilingual Education in Massachusetts. First in the United States.
• Co-led movement to create a Portuguese branch of the New Bedford Public Library- Casa da Saudade.
• Conceptualized and created the Community Center on Thompson Street, New Bedford, where services such as: The Immigrants Assistance Center, Casa da Saudade, LASA (Luso-American Soccer Association) Escola Oficial Portuguesa, among others, were housed.
• Responsible for the creation of the Senior Citizens Center on Ashley Park in New Bedford.
• Founded the Portuguese-American Congress of New England in 1985.
• Co-Founded the Fundação Faialense (Scholarships) in 1969.
• Co-founded the Club União Faialense of New Bedford in 1962.
• Instrumental in the founding of P.B.A. (Portuguese-Businessman Association) of Fall River, MA. in 1982.
• Responsible for the Sistership Alliance between Horta, Azores and New Bedford in 1972.
• Instrumental in the creation of an Endowed Chair in Portuguese studies at Umass Dartmouth.
• Led numerous Community Fundraisers.

* Served as Director/Officer of many Community Organizations including:

1. Volunteers of America of Greater New Bedford
2. Heart Fund Campaign (1979) General Chairman
3. SER JOBS for Progress of Fall River (Director)
4. Knights of Columbus in New Bedford Fourth Degree
5. Fundação Faialense of New England- President
6. Club União Faialense of New Bedford- President
7. LASA- Luso American Soccer Association- President
8. Portuguese-American Congress of New England- President
9. Portuguese-Brazilian Center- Umass Dartmouth- Advisory Board
10. Friends of the Casa da Saudade- President
11. New Bedford Traffic Commission- Member
12. City Property Committee- New Bedford- Member
13. Ordinances Committee- New Bedford- Chairman
14. City Council Audit Committee- New Bedford- Chairman

• Founded Neto Insurance of New Bedford (1973) and Fall River (1979)

• Owned and operated WRCP 1290AM - Radio Clube Portugues in Providence, RI from 1987 to 1994.

• Admitted to Ford Motor Co. “500 Club” in 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971.

• Married to Helen Rapoza since 1964.

• Father of Rosemary (1965), Fernando (1966) and Stephen (1968).

• Grandfather to Jenna (1996), Chloe (1999), Braley (2001), Samuel (2001) and Myles (2004)

• Recognized throughout the years by numerous Institutions and Community Organizations, such as:

1. The President of Portugal, Mario Soares, in 1987 with the “Comenda de Ordem Benemerencia e Merito Civil.”
2. Prince Henry Society- New Bedford Chapter, 1987 and the Massachusetts State Council, 1994.
3. The University of Mass., Dartmouth- “PHI LAMBDA BETA”
4. Camara Municipal da Horta, Faial, 1985 & 2008
5. The Regional Government of the Azores.
6. The New Bedford Standard Times “HATS OFF”
7. The Azorean Times of Bristol, R.I.
8. The Portuguese Times of New Bedford.
9. Acores-Madeira Radio Program of Fall River.
10. The Governor of Massachusetts, Michael Dukakis.
11. The Massachusetts Senate.
12. The Massachusetts House of Representatives (twice).
13. The Rhode Island State Treasurer.
14. The Mayor of New Bedford (twice).
15. The Mayor of Fall River.
16. The New Bedford City Council.
17. The Dartmouth Board of Selectmen.
18. Grandes Festas do Espirito Santo da Nova Inglaterra.
19. Fundação Faialense- (several times).
20. Clube União Faialense- Honorary Member
21. LASA (Luso American Soccer Assoc.) Honorary Member
22. Monte-Pio Luso Americano- 100th Anniversary
23. WRCP 1290 A.M. of Providence, R.I.- (twice)
24. Ateneu Luso Americano of Fall River- (twice)

References

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