2010 Lifetime Achievement
Award
- Joe Silva
Joe
was born in Taunton, Massachusetts in 1925. In 1948, he
left Massachusetts with a cousin to pursue a fishing job
in San Diego. Joe’s first job was on the Glory of the
Sea. Joe met and married Marianne Sebastian during his years
as a fisherman. Together they have two children, Judy and
Joseph. After a few years of fishing Joe decided to quit
and apply for a job at Solar Turbines. He worked there for
several years as a manager. During all these years Joe was
very involved in the Festa do Santo Amaro and the Portuguese
American Social and Civic Club. It was during this time that
Joe’s talents were welcomed and it was then that Joe
became an integral part of the facility we know today as
the United Portuguese SES Hall.
Joe’s talents are numerous which makes him indispensable
to everyone here at the Portuguese Hall. Joe is always willing
to give a helping hand to anyone who asks whether he knows
them or not. He has been very involved with the Commodities
Program at St. Agnes Church where he devotes many hours and
miles on his car picking up food for senior citizens. Joe
has served as a Director for the UPSES Inc. for many, many
years and became President in 1998. Joe finished his one
(1) year as President and decided he preferred working behind
the scenes in his plaid shirt and jeans instead of his suit.
Joe is truly worthy of this Lifetime Achievement Award and
it is our pleasure to present it to him.
2010 Humanitarian of the Year - Gabriel Leal
Gabriel Leal was born
on March 3, 1969 in Pico, Azores, Portugal to Manuel and
Maria Leal and older brother Manuel Jr. At
the age of five in 1974, Gabe and his family moved to
the United States in hopes of leading a better life. As
a young
adult Gabe became involved with the Portuguese American
dancers and that was the gateway that led him to become
more active in our San Diego Portuguese community.
Gabe Leal did his duty and served as a board of director
for the UPSES INC, where he became more involved with helping
in the kitchen for many different events. At first, he
was an amateur and I’m sure he only was allowed to help
with what they asked him to. After 13 years in the kitchen,
under the supervision of Lucille Machado and the other veterans,
they allowed Gabe to finally be in the front line and run
the kitchen during festa weekend. In addition to be the head
of the chef in charge at Festa time, Gabe has been involved
with many other organizations such as Aliança Açoreana,
the Portuguese-American Dancers, the UPSES happy hours,
the OB Street Fair annual chili cook-off, and countless
other
events.
Gabe has truly been an inspiration to all in the hall kitchen,
the Portuguese community, and the San Diego community at
large. Gabe is an important figure in keeping our Festa and
Portuguese traditions alive. Without people like Gabe and
the leadership he possesses our hall and our traditions would
fade out quickly.
2010 Business Leader of the Year - Tony Calabrese
Tony Calabreseis a native San Diegan who
has spent over 30 years in the banking industry. From San
Diego Trust and
Savings to US Bank
and then to our local Point Loma Community Bank, Tony has always
had an enduring heart for his San Diego community. Tony is an
active member and past president of the Point Loma Rotary
Club, current
chair of the Point Loma Association, and has served as a board
member, volunteer or held officer positions in The Peninsula
YMCA, Peninsula
Chamber of Commerce, The Parkinson Disease Association of San
Diego, and The Combined Health Agencies. Tony devotion to
the community
of San Diego is shown by his dedication and hard work within
the organizations mentioned.
In addition to his support to the San Diego community, Tony
has always dedicated his time to the Portuguese Community
here in
San Diego.
In 2000, Tony and his wife chaired the Festa do Espirito Santo.
Here Tony and Andrea introduced to the community, “The Festa Crab
Feast.” Since 2000 Tony has continued to chair this event
which has become a very important and growing fundraiser to the
Festa each
year. At this event Tony gets the opportunity to create his special
pasta sauce for us Portuguese to enjoy. In 2002 Tony was elected
President of the UPSES Inc. Who would have ever thought that
an Italian would run this hall? He also served as a Board of
Director
and President
of the Portuguese Historical Center and the Cabrillo Civic Club
#16. Italian or not, Tony has always shown a devotion to the
Portuguese Community here in San Diego.
2010 Organization of the Year - Cabrillo Civic Club
#16 of San Diego
In January 1934 Cabrillo Civic Clubs of California was founded
by Californians of Portuguese ancestry in honor of Joao Rodrigues
Cabrillo, discoverer of California. Their mission was to teach
and foster Americanization and instill desire of the Portuguese
to become active citizens and participate in their communities.
Cabrillo Civic Club #16 of San Diego was organized in San Diego
on January 14, 1950. Its first President was Matt Oliveira, charter
member with us today, Vice President Lucille Madruga, Treasurer
Rita Ballatore and charter members Mary G Rosa and Phyliss Sequeira.
They had fourteen (14) directors and a total of 299 charter members
with dues of $5 a year and were installed by the then called Grand
President Manuel Macedo of Hanford.
Today the members continue to be dedicated to civic progress, to
teach and foster Americanization, to promote scholarships, and
encourage better education to expand civic affairs and community
service. They have proved themselves in competing state-wide in
scholarship, Americanization, publicity, charitable donations,
cancer research, and civic affairs by winning All around club at
the state convention.
In 2009 Cabrillo Civic Club #16 awarded over $6,000 in scholarships,
distributed monthly donations of $1,950, donated over $3,000 to
cancer research, volunteered thousands of hours within the community
here in California and currently have 270 active members.
The Cabrillo Civic Club #16 is truly commended for their dedication
and continuous support towards education, charitable donations,
volunteering, Americanization and civic affairs.
