Basil P. Santos 88, of Provincetown, died unexpectedly Sunday, December 16, 2012 at Cape Cod Hospital, just 7 weeks after the death of his beloved wife Gloria.
Born in Provincetown on July 30, 1924, he was the son of the late Bazil and Maria Santos. Mr. Santos had a very full life. He graduated from Provincetown High School 70 years ago. During WWII he served in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in Iceland and served as a Tail Gunner on a B-24 Aircraft. He was very proud of the time he spent serving his country but was very reluctant to discuss his war experience. Following his tour of duty in Iceland, he was assigned to the USS Midway. Following the war Mr. Santos returned to Provincetown and on October 30, 1947 he married the love of his life Gloria E. (Silva) Santos. They immediately became an inseparable team. That same year they opened the Captains Galley Restaurant in the East End of Provincetown. They worked closely together building the business and in 1954 they opened a Howard Johnson franchise at the same location. Many years later it was renamed Basil’s and eventually became known as Michael Shays restaurant, owned and operated by his son Michael and daughter in law Shay. His dedication and knowledge of the business was noticed by other entrepreneurs and he was called upon to open and manage the Smith House Restaurant, situated at the current location of the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge. He also worked in the management of the Stop and Shop Corporation.
Each winter for several years, he would take his family to Florida where he opened and managed several Howard Johnsons Restaurants. In 1972 he and Gloria purchased the Mews Restaurant which was situated at its original location, 359 Commercial St. They also owned the Ever Breeze Restaurant on Commercial St. for two years. In the mid to late 1940s he enjoyed working with his sister Adeline Medeiros and her husband Ralph when they built the original Lobster Pot Restaurant.
Mr. Santos was a long time member of the Knights of Columbus, Provincetown Lions Club and the Lewis A. Young VFW Post in Provincetown. He was also a lifelong member of St. Peter the Apostle Church.
He is survived by his 2 sons, Michael W. Santos and his wife Shay and Christopher P. Santos all of Provincetown, his granddaughter, Elizabeth Curtis and her husband Adam of Brewster, his grandson Casey Santos of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, his two great grandchildren Norah and Grace Curtis of Brewster, his brother Joseph of Nebraska and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Adeline Medeiros.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Peter the Apostle Church 11 Prince St. Provincetown on Saturday December 22, 2012, at 10:00am. Visiting hours were Friday 5-7pm in the Gately Funeral Home 94 Harry Kemp Way Provincetown. If desired memorial contributions in honor of Basil may be made to St. Peter the Apostle Church 11 Prince St. Provincetown, MA 02657.