Wendell J. "Wendy" Miranda, Jr., 66, of New Bedford died Monday August 20, 2012 at St. Luke's Hospital surrounded by his loving family and devoted friends.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Wendell J. and Caroline (Luchetti) Miranda, he lived in New Bedford all of his life.
He was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
Mr. Miranda was formerly employed as a maintenance worker for the New Bedford Housing Authority until his retirement.
He was a graduate of New Bedford High School, where he was a member of the 1961 championship basketball team. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He served as a referee for the Boys and Girls Club and as a baseball and softball umpire for the Bay State League. He was a pioneer in the promotion of the sport of volleyball in the Southeastern Massachusetts area. He had been a national high school and collegiate volleyball official. He was a member of the New Bedford High School Basketball Hall of Fame and the Y.A. Club.
He had a wonderful sense of humor and had a special way of bringing people together.
Survivors include two daughters, Tiffany J. Miranda and Wen-dee J. Miranda, both of New Bedford; two sisters, Marilyn Sousa and her husband Roger of Saratoga Springs, NY and Bonita Ward and her husband Rodney of Lynch Station, VA; his former wife and best friend, Cheryl (Domingos) Miranda of New Bedford; two grandchildren, Nyel J. Miranda-Carrasquillo and Nyani J. Miranda-Gilbert; and several nieces and nephews.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday at 11 AM at Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Flowers are acceptable or donations may be made to the Boys and Girls Club of New Bedford, 166 Jenney St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.