Antone Felix

Antone Felix
Professor Emeritus

Antone Felix, age 83, died peacefully at home on April 22, 2010 under hospice care by the Fairhaven Community Nurses and family. He was preceded in death by his father Antonio Felix and mother Maria de Lourdes Macedo, brother Joseph Felix, sister-in-law Elsie Felix, sister Mary (Lucy) Marks, brother-in-law Joseph Marks and nephew Anthony J. Felix. He is survived by his brother Daniel Felix, nieces Mary Lou Marks, Tracey Francis and husband Scott, Cecilia Felix and great nieces Carlie Francis and Neely Francis, as well as his long time friend Sheila Azevedo.

He was a graduate of New Bedford High School, received a B.S. degree from Boston University, and two master's degrees, an M. Ed. from Bridgewater State College and an M.A. from New York University. In addition, he completed course work at Harvard University, Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil, and Universidade de Lisboa. He taught Portuguese at New Bedford High School, was a Professor of Portuguese at S.M.U. (now University of Massachusetts Dartmouth) where he received the title Professor Emeritus. For five years he served as principal of De Valles Evening School. While on the Board of Trustees of S.M.U. he chaired a sub-committee to draft a proposal for a Portuguese Learning Center which was accepted in the Spring of 1973, resulting in the Center for the Portuguese Speaking World (CPSW), and subsequently served as its director for several years. Many local Portuguese cultural organizations called upon him to give talks and slide presentations on Camoes or Portuguese Africa (Angola and Mozambique). Some of his contributions to S.M.U. include obtaining the first Leitor from Insituto de Alta Cultura, organizing the first Portuguese lecture given by Dr. J. M. dos Santos, Director of Museum de Arte Antiga in Lisbon, beginning the Summer Study in Portugal Program for students, and obtaining many books, magazines, and newspapers for the S.M.U. library from Portuguese Government Agencies. He was invited by the Portuguese Embassy in Washington to visit Angola and Mozambique. The Portuguese Government condecorated him with Ordem de Merito. He both conducted research on the Military Orders of Santiago and Avis and wrote book reveiws on Protuguese publications and several articles on the study of Portuguese. He served two years in the U.S. Army at the General Headquarters in Tokyo.

Antone, a faithful son, supportive uncle, and devoted brother, enjoyed going to Portuguese restaurants, travling to the Azores and Lisbon to visit family and relatives, and spending time with his family and friends. In his later years he especially enjoyed playing with his grand-nieces. His hobbies included gradening, watching Portuguese soap operas, and telling stories about his ancestors. He was highly respected by the Portuguese community and esteemed by his former students at New Bedford High School and S.M.U. He was affectionately known as Tony, Padrinho, Ti Tony, Ti Ti Porka and often called Senhor Professor.

Donations in honor and memory of Tony Felix may be made to Holy Family Holy Name School in New Bedford to assist children in need, the Antone Felix Scholarship Fund and the Anthony J. Felix Scholarship Fund at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 9:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to meet at church. Arrangements are by the Perry Funeral Home, 111 Dartmouth St. Interment will follow at St. John Cemetery.