Mr. Edmund P. “Hector” Massa, age 94 of Woodlawn Avenue, Bristol, died peacefully Thursday, April 20, 2017 at his home, surrounded by his loving family, following a brief illness. He was the husband of Shirley A. (Girard) Massa, to whom he would have been married to 40 years in May. Born in Bristol and a lifelong resident, he was a son of the late Biagio and Theresa (Ambrosia) Massa. One of the most recognizable figures in the Bristol Community, Hector touched countless lives throughout his hallmark career….first as an All-State athlete at his beloved Colt Memorial High School during the early 1940’s, and finally, as athletic director at then Roger Williams College, retiring in 1988. In between from 1950-1972, he become a legend as physical director at the former Bristol YMCA and its Hog Island “Camp Hess” Day Camp. While at Colt Memorial, Hector earned a then record 11 varsity letters in three sports (baseball, basketball and football) and was one of the first ninth graders to come down to the new Andrews School to compete on the varsity in 1939. He earned All-Division in the three sports he competed in, and was a first team All-State selection in baseball as a third baseman and catcher. At graduation, Hector received the Bristol High School Athletic Council Trophy, symbolic of athletic and academic excellence. From there, he entered Springfield College and was working on a degree in physical education when World War II broke out. He decided to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard and served his country admirably. In 1950, he became the physical education director at the Bristol YMCA. This would open up doors he never realized and start a warm and caring relationship with countless young kids in town. Hector used the Bristol Y to his advantage in keeping kids off the streets. “Those were such rewarding years for me,” noted Hector. “I met so many wonderful young kids. Many of them are still close friends with me today.” In addition to spending countless hours working at the Y, Hector thrived as director of the YMCA Day Camp on Hog Island. Everyone called Hector, “Hector, Sir!” He taught swimming, led the children every day in calisthenics, and taught them to love and respect nature in a primitive outdoor environment. The children would line up early on the sidewalk in front of the Y on Hope Street and march down regimentally to the beat of a drum. Waiting anxiously at the Church Street Dock, was the late Capt. Manny Sousa, who watched the kids board the Prudence Ferry for the trip to Hog Island. “I enjoyed this part of my YMCA experience more than you’ll ever know,” said Hector, “I loved every one of these children as if they were my very own.” For 22 years, Hector Massa thoroughly enjoyed his role at the Bristol Y, including the late 1960s, when he helped realize a longtime dream: the addition of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Ironically, it was this same indoor pool which helped him get a job at then Roger Williams College. “I gave President Ralph Gauvey his first swimming lessons at the Y,” said Hector. “He enjoyed that so much and was so appreciative.” As fate would have it, Hector would become the next athletic director at the College.
When Hector got to Roger Williams as the new AD (succeeding Tom Drennan in 1972), the college campus nowhere resembled its current state. During his 16 years at Roger Williams, Hector built the sports program to include 16 varsity sports for men and women, including, sailing, equestrian and a variety of club and recreational sports programs. He also started the Roger Williams College Day Camp. When Hector retired from Roger Williams in 1988, he left behind a legacy which is still a part of the fabric of the University community today. Throughout his illustrious career, Hector received many honors and awards for meritorious service to the community. He was inducted into the Bristol Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985, the Roger Williams University Hall of Fame in 2013 and also in 2013 was the Hattie Brown Award Recipient for the 228th Fourth of July Celebration in honor of his community service. Hector kept active over the years with many activities in the Bristol community by first starring in and later coaching the old Bristol Twilight Baseball League on the Town Common and helped develop some of the finest baseball talent to ever come out of Bristol, a well-known and respected High School Baseball Umpire for 50 years. An active communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, he was an usher for many years and a former vice president of the St. Vincent de Paul society for many years at the church. He was a member of the Portuguese Independent Band, the Leonardo DaVinci Lodge Sons of Italy, a member of the Fourth of July Committee for many years and an avid New York Yankees Fan.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children; Edward J. Massa (Linda) of Dartmouth, MA, Teresa Massa of Bristol and Alan K. “Rock” Massa of North Kingstown, two grandchildren; Dennis P. Byars and Tara M. Byars. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers and sisters; Joseph, Salvatore “Sal”, Nicholas “Nick”, Biagino “Gene”, and Angelo “Chet” Massa, Anna Esposito, Florence “Flo” Vieira, Josephine Vescera, Theresa Cardoza and Palmera “Pal” Alves.
Funeral services from the Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood Street, Bristol, Thursday, April 27, 2017 at 9:00 AM with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 141 State Street, Bristol. Burial with Military Honors will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Chestnut Street, Bristol. Visiting hours will be Wednesday, April 26, 2017 from 4:00-8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 141 State Street or to the Roger Williams University Athletic Dept. (for the establishment of a scholarship in his name), One Old Ferry Road, both Bristol, RI 02809. For full obituary, condolences and shared memories, information and directions go to www.sansonefuneralhome.com

 

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