Guy Oliveira, 87, of New Bedford passed away after a lengthy illness on Friday November 14, 2014 at St. Luke’s Hospital. He was the husband of Virginia (Lima) Oliveira; they had been married for sixty years.
Born in New Bedford, he was the son of the late Agnes Oliveira. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
Guy spent the major part of his life devoted to community service. After an enlistment in the U.S. Army, he served the citizens of New Bedford as a police officer for close to forty years. Appointed in 1951, he eventually rose through the ranks, being promoted to Captain in 1986. At that time his appointment was the highest level ever attained by a “person of color” in the history of the department. All during his career, Guy continued to be a mentor to his fellow police officers and the young people in the New Bedford community.
He was a graduate of New Bedford Vocational High School and attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, a unique opportunity where participation is by invitation only through a nomination process.
His community involvement outside of law enforcement included his serving as a Director of the New Bedford Credit Union, New Bedford Child and Family Service, and New Bedford Residential Youth Center. He had been the Vice Chairman of the City of New Bedford Citizens Advisory Committee and had been a member of the New Bedford Licensing Board. He was a member and Past President of the New Bedford High School Gridiron Club and the Massachusetts Senior Action Council. He was a former member of the Governor’s Committee on Criminal Justice, the Selection Committee of the Bristol County Juvenile Court Judge, and the New Bedford Task Force for the Juvenile Court.
He is survived by his wife Virginia; a son, Michael Oliveira and his companion Nancy Hinkley; a daughter, Gail Oliveira; his siblings, John, Daniel, and Patricia Silveira; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His Funeral will be held on Tuesday at 8 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by his Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 9 AM. Burial will be in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Bedford, 166 Jenney St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.