RI H8239

Rhode Island House of Representatives expresses condolences on the passing of Manuel Pedroso, who died at age 106

Pedroso was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1919, raised in Portugal, and returned to the U.S. in 1942, where he worked as a welder building liberty ships at Walsh-Kaiser shipyard during World War II and served two years in the U.S. Merchant Marine

Owned and operated Friends Market in Providence's Fox Point neighborhood for more than 60 years, now recognized as the oldest Portuguese-American market still in operation

Known as the "Father of the Portuguese-American community in Rhode Island," he mentored immigrants, helped them find employment, tutored naturalization exam candidates, and sponsored families to reunite in America

Received numerous honors including being named "Man of the Century" by the Rhode Island Day of Portugal Committee in 2019, having a portion of Sheldon Street named "Pedroso Way" in 2022, and receiving the "Order of Merit" from the President of Portugal in 2024