Alfred Medeiros, Jr.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of former employee Alfred Medeiros, Jr., on March 15, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 82.
Alfred was born in New Bedford to the late Alfred, Sr., and Irene (Joaquin) Medeiros.
As a teenager, Alfred worked at and ran an automobile and small engine repair shop. On March 3, 1966, he enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of 23. During his service, Alfred was on a naval submarine based out of New London, CT with travel to the Azores, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean. He received a National Defense Service Medal and ranked as an EN 3 (SS) Engineman Third Class.
After being honorably discharged from the Navy on May 11, 1970, Alfred was engaged in various business enterprises. These business enterprises included a map-making company in Florida, a home waterproofing company, and a gold mining expedition in Ecuador.
Alfred began his career at WHOI in 1968 as a lab assistant. In 1971, he transferred to the R/V Lulu as an assistant engineer. In 1976, he became chief engineer aboard the R/V Lulu. In 1976, he transferred to Alvin/Lulu operations and left in 1978.
In the early 1990s, until his retirement in 2010, he taught industrial arts and science at Hillcrest Educational Center. He also started the National Youth Program Using Mini Bikes (NYPUM) teaching underprivileged youths to learn how to care for and ride trail bikes while also helping them develop self-discipline and self-esteem.
He loved spending time with his family. Alfred also enjoyed cooking. He volunteered his time and knowledge to his community as an unofficial on-call resource for fixing any appliance, HVAC, automotive, or mechanical tools. He was known for picking up roadside broken machinery and appliances, repairing them, and giving them to people who needed them which is how he became known to his community as “Freddie Fixit.” If you know Alfred, you know he tells incredible stories about his life adventures. A committed Christian, Fred was a member of the Calvary Chapel of the Berkshires.
Alfred is survived by his children Elissa Medeiros Steele and her husband Cristian G. DeCroce; Laura Tafel Medeiros Steele and her husband John Esposito; Michael Medeiros and his partner Jessie McCormick; his granddaughter Lyra Medeiros Esposito Steele; his sister Kathleen and her husband Michael Brennan of Fairhaven; and nephews Brent and Scott Stewart of Connecticut.
Calling hours were held on Friday, March 28 at 10 a.m. in the Fairhaven Funeral Home, 117 Main St, Fairhaven. A service was held with an interment following at Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven, with Navy Honors.
Information for this obituary is from The Berkshire Eagle