Elmo deSimas Machado e Melo, 85, of New Bedford passed away Saturday February 27, 2016. He was born October 21,1930 in Sao Caetano, Pico, Açores, the son of the late Clodomiro and Candida deSimas Machado. He was a parishioner of Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. He survived by his wife Maria Cristina and eight children, Cristina Jorge and Paula Aiello, both of Dartmouth, Maria Messier, Elmo Jorge Melo, Ann Margaret Melo, and Michele Melo, all of New Bedford, Jose deSimas Melo of Terceira, Açores, and Lidia Deppermann of Palm Harbour, Florida. He is also survived by two brothers, Aldemiro deSimas Machado and Manuel deSimas Melo, a sister Estela deSimas Nunes, 14 grandchildren, and four great-granddaughters.
Elmo was recognized by the New Bedford Whaling Museum as one of the last surviving Whalers from the Azores. He served in the Portuguese Army and served as the Captain of Terra Alta from 1960 -1966. During his term as Captain of Terra Alta, he was nicknamed “Galvao” because he was strong and fearless. In 1966 he went to work in a fleet of tugboats stationed in Greece, where he traveled the world until migrating with his wife and six children to the United States in November of 1968. Upon arriving in the United States, he worked at Chamberlain Manufacturing until his retirement in 1990.
He was known for always lending a helping hand and thought nothing of risking his life to help others whether it was at sea or on land. He is gone but not forgotten and was loved by many. May he rest in peace!
His Funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford, followed by his Funeral Mass at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church at 10 AM. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Tuesday from 5-8 PM. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.