Francisco Gomes, 90, of New Bedford died March 17, 2002 at St. Luke's Hospital after a brief illness.
He was the husband of the late Ana L. (Lobo) Gomes,and son of the late Casimiro and Ana (DaLomba) Gomes.
Born and raised in Brava, Cape Verde, he lived in Senegal and Ivory Coast before moving to New Bedford in 1965.
He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
Mr. Gomes was formerly employed as a mason for Harold Bosworth in South Dartmouth. He had previously been a government building inspector in the Ivory Coast.
Many years ago he was a sailor aboard the Schooner Ernestina in the Cape Verde Islands. In the 1940s he sailed aboard the Schooner Lucia Avelina to the United States. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the vessel was damaged and was in danger of sinking off of Nantucket. A skilled craftsman, Mr. Gomes went into the water to perform needed underwater repairs to the vessel to keep it on its journey.
Survivors include 5 sons, Julio Gomes and Jose Gomes, both of Dartmouth, Michael Gomes and Jean Pierre Gomes, both of New Bedford and Julio Couto of Pawtucket,, RI; 4 daughters, Maria Gomes of Dartmouth, Eugenia Pfeiffer, Elizabeth Ramos, and Maria Lopes, all of New Bedford; 21 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New BedfordThursday March 21, 2002 at 8 AM.Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 9 AMRelatives and friends are invited to attend.Visiting hours Tuesday evening 7-9PM and Wednesday 2- 4and 7-9.Interment St. John's Cemetery.