Joao Joaquim Santos (Her 2nd Husband)

In Cape Verde, in the early 1900's, there was very little in the way of formal education for those who desired an education. One such school, if not the only one in the Islands, was the Seminary Liceu on the Island of Sao Nicolau. This school, a Roman Catholic School, prepared students for two types of careers-School Teachers and the 'Priesthood'. I thank Dad for his choice. There is a black & white pamphlet entitled 'Cape Verdeans in America Our Story'. It is published by 'TCHUBA' - The American Committee for Cape Verde. On page 49
there is a picture of students and faculty at the school in 1910. In that picture the young man at the far right of the first row is my Dad at age 11. Also pictured in this magazine, on page 59, is a picture of the Cape Verdean Club of Bridgeport, Ct, including Nha Gaida holding a child (Frankie??) and standing next to Tia Laura
Soares and behind Tio Tomeo and Cousin Bea's Mom. Load up your printer with high gloss paper and print this historic magazine.

Nho Joao died in April of 1966 while visiting his sister in Lomba Pilado Faja, Sao Nicolau, Cabo Verde. Her name was Maria Rosario Costa Gomes. He had sustained injuries after falling off of a horse and had been bed ridden for weeks and no one ever tried to contact myself or Jackie about his injuries. When we did receive news it was 10 days after he had been buried. It is something that-till this day-still disturbs me. Not a phone call nor a telegram from anyone.

Dad came to America in the early 1900's both to seek his fortune and to beat a 10 year military obligation to the colonial power of Portugal. Like most Cape Verdeans in those days he originally settled in the New Bedford, Ma. area. The search for more lucrative employment led him to eventually settle in Port Chester, NY where he found a small, but thriving Cape Verdean community. 

I am not absolutely certain but I think he came to Port Chester before the Britto Family settled here. He worked as a construction laborer and as a landscaper. Almost all Cape Verdeans, in those days, had agricultural and landscaping skills. He worked on many construction projects including the building of ballparks in which his Sons played ball many years later. Over the years I have heard stories that the Westchester Country Club was built with a predominately Cape Verdean workforce-Dad was most certainly in that group.

Some time later Nho Joao received word that a Family, by the name of Britto, had some rooms to let and were looking for boarders. The Britto Family had rented a large property known as the 'Ice House' which located at the swimming hole known as the 'Keyhole' and was located on Bowman Avenue just north of Ridge Street.  In those days, if you were Cape Verdean and you had available space, you rented to other Cape Verdeans who were very happy to pay room & board that included Cape Verdean cuisine. So Dad and other Cape Verdeans lived with the Brittos.

Many years later, when I purchased a home in California, a young Cape Verdean Lady's letter of recommendation, on my behalf, led to immediate approval of my application by the lender. This young Lady was the Daughter of a Woman who roomed with the Brittos around about the same time as my Dad did. At times like that you realize how small the world is and yet, how close the Cape Verdean community is.

Later, at some point, Mr. Britto and Mom had disagreements about the amount of Children Mom was having. Then, with Jay's birth, Mr. Britto returned to Cabo Verde-leaving Mom with seven children.

Note: It may be also that he was running moonshine and had to get away from authorities.

At about this time Dad became very ill and was bed ridden for quite some time. Mom, still Mrs. Britto, tended to him, cooked special meals for him and cared for him as a concerned nurse would care for a patient. In later years, I heard Dad say, many times, to mine and Jackie's Godfather-his best friends-that Mom saved his life. So when he got well he married her and became a Father to seven children and then added two more of his own. He told his friends he did it in appreciation of her saving his life. Pops that is one heck of a lot of appreciation. Still I am immensely proud of him because he helped to keep together all of the people I loved most in this world. He was a large influence not only on live's of Jackie and Myself, but also Charlie, Given and Jay-and also Serafina who never forgave Mr. Britto for leaving her Mom.

I can tell you all one story that best describes what kind of man Nho Joao Joaquim Santos was.  After Mom died and Dad began planning his trip to Cape Verde he had me drive him to visit Friends and relatives to obtain their 'mantenhas' that he would deliver upon his arrival in Cabo Verde.

Dad had heard that Manuel Britto was working in the salt fields of the island of Sal and that his eyesight was failing. Nho Joao spent a year collecting old pairs of eyeglasses from people to bring to Nho Manuel. He delivered the eyeglasses and pleased Mr. Britto immensely with the tales (of) how well his Children had done for themselves. Fact is Nho Manuel outlived my Dad-Nho Manuel lived into his 90's.

Dad, the news of your death tore me up. It was the first time I had ever felt all alone. What strength I had left came from all of Your and Mom's teaching over the years. I realize, that as the youngest, you both assumed the task of teaching younger Family members would fall to me. 

I made no such assumption because I figured I was close enough in age to Jay & Jackie that such a task would never fall to me. So when Jay died in 1981 and Jackie in 1982, I began to panic. 

So here I am trying to pass on our Cape Verdean legacy to younger Family members and never knowing whether or not any of it is getting through to them.  Never the less, I keep pounding away, as you did so often with me, and hoping that I will live to see the light come on in their little heads-one by one.

Rest easy my Father, and know that I have always loved you, and my only regret is that I did not express it as often as I should have.

Your Son,

John