Antone Baptista "Toi" Cruz, Sr., 86, of New Bedford died Sunday June 24, 2007 at St. Luke's Hospital after a long illness. He was the husband of Dorothy B. (Miranda) Cruz; they had been married for 65 years.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Joao Baptista and Justa (Pina) Cruz, he lived in New Bedford all of his life.
He was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Church.
Mr. Cruz was formerly employed as a merchant seaman until his retirement.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the National Maritime Union and a founding member of the Merchant Mariners Club. He enjoyed jazz and boxing. He was a graduate of Campbell Business School.
Survivors include his wife; six children, Atty. Antone B. Cruz, Jr. and his wife Judy, Robert W. Cruz, Carl J. Cruz, and Cheryl E. Cruz, all of New Bedford, and Nadine H. Cruz and Ronald J. Cruz, both of Boston; two sisters, Olivia Rose and Mary "Bea" Fortes, both of New Bedford; ten grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
He was the father of the late Steven M. Cruz, and brother of the late Edward Cruz, John "Duke" Cruz, and Margie Gomes.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 9 AM in Our Lady of the Assumption Church. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday from 4-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Remembrances may be made to Our Lady of the Assumption Memorial Fund, 47 South Sixth St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guest book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.