Arthur A. Dutra, 67, of Dartmouth died Tuesday March 22, 2011 at home after a courageous battle with cancer. He was the husband of Jeanne (DuPont) Dutra.
Born in Highland Park, Michigan, the son of the late Anthony Dutra, Mary (Joaquin) Dutra Maguire, and Thomas P. Maguire, he lived in New Bedford and Dartmouth for most of his life.
He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in South Dartmouth.
Mr. Dutra began his long career in education as a teacher in the New Bedford School Department in 1968. He had served as the principal of the John B. Hannigan School since 1979 and the principal of Sea Lab since 1976.
He was a graduate of Western Michigan University and Bridgewater State University. He was a member of the Massachusetts Marine Educators, New Bedford Whaling Museum, and the New Bedford Educators Association.
Mr. Dutra was privileged to have worked with the administration, teachers, and students of the New Bedford Public Schools, as well as numerous scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Boston College Educational Seismology Program Weston Observatory, the University of Rostock, Germany, and Immersions-Presents, Mystic Aquarium, and many other institutions throughout the world.
He is survived by his wife; and a daughter, Ann Marie Mullane and her husband Shawn of Norwalk, CT. They shared many happy memories together.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 11 AM in St. Mary's Church, South Dartmouth. Burial will be private. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 3-8 PM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Remembrances may be made to the Friends of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Head and Neck Cancer Research, 450 Brookline Ave., Shields-Warren 120, Boston, MA 02215.