The passing of Carl Furtado - 36th Combat Engineer

[Walt's Daughter]

Very sad news today my friends -

A few of you are aware, but most of you do not know of the passing of my very dear friend, Carl Furtado, 36th Engineer from WWII. Can't tell you how much I will miss this man. Words will not suffice...

http://www.6thcorpscombatengineers.com/CarlFurtado.htm

I plan on posting something on his memoir page, later this week. Too difficult to write, at the present.

Below, please find a note from his son, Ted.

Hi Marion,

Thank you so much for your note and the offer for the birthday card for next week.

Dad passed this morning very peacefully and quietly at 4:30 with my brother Don at his side.

Holly my brother Pete and I had been there all day and left late last night, after telling him how much we loved him and how much we would miss him.

I can't tell you how much Dad loved you, Margi and Lorraine, his Seahorse Sweethearts!

His 74+ year friendship with Tony meant the world to him and he thought of him as a brother.

He had great respect and love for John all these years.

He missed all the guys from the 36th who preceded him and loved all his kids who kept their memories alive through the reunions.

If you would be so kind as to forward this to anyone else who would want to know, I will be most appreciative.

Thank you all.

Best regards,

Ted

 

[colinhotham]

Carl was a true friend and a very special person. Over the past 7 years I got to know him very well and stayed with him at his house in Barrington, RI, three times. He took me on many trips to show me round his state, which I will always treasure as great memories. He came from "the greatest generation" and we owe him and his fellow WW2 veterans so much.

He will never be forgotten.

R.I.P. Carl.

 

Colin.

[Walt's Daughter]

AMEN!

[CaptO]

All I could say when I saw this was "OH NO!!" I regret that I was only able to meet him the one time in 2011 but I am grateful I was able to meet him then. All these gentlemen are so special and it takes only a little while to see it. I'm so glad to have gotten the opportunity to make their acquaintance. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[Walt's Daughter]

I am going to make sure that the family sees these posts. I know it will mean a lot to them. I'm also going to include the comments from Facebook. Probably compile all of them within the next week or so. Thanks for your kind words.

[Walt's Daughter]

This was just provided to me by Ted and Holly.

 

 

FURTADO, CARL F. 96, of Barrington passed away peacefully on November 30, 2016 at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center surrounded by his loving family, concluding a full and happy life.

 

Carl was born to Charles and Mary Furtado. He grew up in Fairhaven, MA where he was an outstanding high school athlete, going on to play semi-pro football after graduation. He began a career at the Standard-Times newspaper in New Bedford, MA prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, when he enlisted in the Army. Assigned to the Army’s 36th Combat Engineers, Carl made landings in North Africa, Sicily and twice in Italy, including at Anzio as part of the Allied Forces that liberated Rome in 1944. Injured shortly after, he returned to the States, to recover and then to resume his newspaper career as a linotype machinist.

 

It was then that he met the love of his life, Millicent (Tripp) to whom he was married for 60 years, until her death in 2005. Moving to Barrington, Rhode Island in 1955 to work at the Providence Journal he raised his family of 3 sons, volunteered in scouting, church and coaching, played golf, made life-long friends, became a ham radio operator and then in his 80's taught himself how to use a PC and enjoyed creating multi-media CD’s, email and Skype. Above all, Carl loved life and his family, living independently in his own home to the end. He was a kind and loving man, respected by all who knew him.

 

He is survived by his three sons, C. Edward (Ted) and his wife Holly Hitchcock of East Providence, Donald L. Furtado of Rehoboth, MA and Peter B. Furtado and his partner Katie Kelley of Burlington, VT; grandson Thomas August of Fall River, MA; sister Vernice Grgurich of Crosby, MN; brother Robert Furtado of Fairhaven, MA and a close multi-generational family all of whom loved Uncle/Grandpa Carl! He is pre-deceased by his sister Eleanore Brown of Fairhaven, MA.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center in recognition of the compassion, care and comfort they gave Carl in his final days.

 

Calling hours will be from 3-6 pm on Sunday, December 4, 2016

The funeral service will be at 11am on Monday December 5, 2016 at the funeral home.

Following, there will be a graveside committal ceremony with military honors (to be confirmed today).

Luncheon at the Wharf Tavern Restaurant will follow to share our stories of a wonderful man, loved by all.

[parker]

I join you in mourning the passing of Mr. Furtado. I read his journal and like others I have met from the Gretest Generation he was humble and every bit a hero in my eyes. I join the others in asking God to comfort the family in their time of sorrow.

 

Parker

[Walt's Daughter]

Thanks Parker. It is so nice to hear from others. I'm glad you had the chance to read his journal. I'm so happy that he and his family took the time to share this material with the whole world.

[Walt's Daughter]

I just added Carl's name to the dedication page in my latest book, The Story of Q - Misha Goes Missing.

To all my readers young and old
and my dear friend Lisa Kozora —
You inspire me with your attitude and courageousness!
To Carl Furtado – you will never be forgotten!

[Walt's Daughter]

Good morning all,

 

Just a quick note to let you know that we gave dad the sendoff he deserved yesterday.

Service, Eulogy, Military Honors at the gravesite and then a great party with friends and family sharing hundreds of stories about him.

 

My brothers, Holly and I would like to thank you all for both your love and friendship with dad and our family and the support you have given us the past 2 weeks.

I have attached a copy of the eulogy I wrote and presented for dad yesterday.

 

Please free to share my thanks with anyone I do not have on my email list.

 

Best Regards,

Ted & Holly Furtado

----------------------------------------------------

 

 

For those who knew Carl or simply took an interest in him as an integral part of this website, I provide for you the eulogy presented to me by his son. Imagine my surprise this morning, after discovering my name name within its paragraphs. Such an honor and privilege to be part of his life.

 

Attached is the file that accompanied this letter.

Carl Furtado Eulogy December 5, 2016.pdf