Joao Vaz

Naugatuck, CT Joao Augusto Afonso Vaz , “John”, 74, died peacefully at home on June 22, 2022. He was the husband of Hilda Lopes Vaz for 52 years.

John was born in Monte Murtosa, Portugal on November 12, 1947 son of Filipe Jose Vaz and Maria dos Anjos Afonso Vaz. He was educated in Portugal and moved to the United States in 1963. After living for a short time in Newark, NJ, he moved to Naugatuck where he lived with his aunt Maria Regina Pinho and her husband Jose Pinho.

Upon arriving in Naugatuck, John began working at Risdon Manufacturing and attended Kaynor Technical School where he became certified as an eyelet toolmaker. He continued to work at Risdon in Naugatuck and eventually in Watertown for the next 43 years.

He retired in 2009 and he and his wife Hilda spent the next several years enjoying two months of the winter in Florida and visiting Portugal during the summer.

John was a member of Clube Uniao Portuguesa in Naugatuck and he coached Naugatuck Youth Soccer when his sons were young. He played golf at Hop Brook Golf Course and especially enjoyed taking part in the Wednesday Evening Golf League. He was a very enthusiastic fan of Portuguese Soccer, cheering on his favorite team of Porto.

Besides his wife Hilda, John is survived by his sons, John Vaz of Malden, MA and Brian Vaz of Dedham, MA; his brother, Filipe (Celeste) Vaz of Montville, NJ; his nephews, Philip (Ashley) Vaz and Daniel (Marissa) Vaz of New Jersey; his sisters in law, Mary Oliveira and Hilda (Roy) Merolli; several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. John was predeceased by his parents, Filipe and Maria and his in laws, Antonio and Hilda Moura.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 10:00am at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 318 Church Street, Naugatuck. Everyone attending is kindly asked to please meet directly at church. Burial will follow in St. James Cemetery, Cross Street, Naugatuck. Calling hours are Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00pm at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. Contributions in John’s memory may be made to Clube Uniao Portuguesa, 110 Rubber Avenue, Naugatuck, CT 06770 or to Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, 1075 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, CT 06708.