Tributes to Fire Chief Eddie Borges!
By a Medical Doctor--By a Fireman--A Politician & By a Newspaper Publisher

 Click on photo for larger view  Fire Chief Eddie Borges put on his last show for me and Roswell  Bosworth when we visited him a few days before he passed way.  He felt like a young boy playing with his many electric trains in his cellar. (Photo "East Bay Newspapers") 

"I have to protect my men!" ------------"And I have to protect my patients!"

  This was the exchange of conversation I had several times with Big Fire Chief Eddie Borges, when I called for an ambulance because I had a sick patient at the Bristol County  Medical Center who need to be taken to the Hospital in Providence.  But I can state here publicly that Chief Borges and his men NEVER  let me down!  

We had a mutual admiration for each other.  He gave me the honor of being my patient until I retired. He was honest, frank and sincere!  -- "I never received any money under the table!"  "I just want the best for the town of Bristol!", he said many times emphatically. 

Chief Borges was indeed a very proud American! He served with courage, patriotism , an honor the United States of America, in the II World War!  But he was also very proud of his Portuguese roots! He was not a shamed of his Azorian ancestry! He was not ashamed of speaking Portuguese!  And he would let you know about that! He knew that a man who knows more than one language has a larger scope of the world!

He always instilled an enthusiastic pride in his firemen: "You, as voluntary firemen, are a very important team of concerned citizens in this town!" He was very proud of being a fireman. And his men respect him very much and his command!  If we have now a permanent professional Fire Chief, and if we  have now a permanent Rescue, we should not forget that it was Chief Eddie  Borges who spoke loud and clear for the need of these two essential entities!

He loved every one despite of his or hers ethnicity! He loved the entire town of Bristol very much! As a fireman he cared for every street and every house anywhere in the town. Big Fire Chief Eddy Borges had a unique personality! He was the last one of a rare species as Voluntary Fire Chief   in Bristol!   We will never see one like him again in our lifetime! He was an excellent example of dedication to all the citizens of Bristol, but more specific to the young and above all to all the volunteer firemen and firewomen in the town of Bristol, Rhode Island. 

EDDIE BORGES STREET

If I were a volunteer fireman, I would move a proposal with all  other firemen in town, to present a petition to the Town Council to name a street in Bristol "Eddy Borges Street" in honor of this great man, to remind the present an future generations, what it means to dedicate an entire life, voluntarily, to the protection of our fellow citizens and their properties.

General MacArthur once said  "Old soldiers never die!". The same philosophy is in order here now: "Old volunteer firemen never die".

The Eddie Borges Street would be a permanent reminder for men and women who continue to make Bristol, Rhode Island, one of the most proud and typical American towns in U. S. A. It will also make us recall that our Founding Fathers were all volunteer firemen!

Click on photo for larger view. Chief Eddie Borges even let me tried his marvelous railroad enterprise! (Photo "East Bay Newspapers")  I have lost a true friend and a Portuguese-American that we all can be proud of. May his soul rest in peace!    Manuel Luciano da Silva, M. D.

Eulogy to Edward R. Borges
  By David Barboza  Quill; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">
Fireman and Councilman  at the St. Elizabeth Church  Mass 

Mrs. B.,  Linda Lou, Junie, it is certainly a privilege for me to be asked to say a few words for a man I’ve admired and respected for close to thirty years.

  A while back during one of my visits to Ed he said to me, “Come on downstairs I have something I want to show you.”  With that big grin on his face and that mischievous look in his eyes I thought, “This has got to be good!  Knowing Eddie I wouldn’t be surprised if he had Jimmy Hoffa or Elvis down there, because whatever it was it had to be something big; Eddie didn’t do anything in a small way.

 I think that “big” is the operative word here as it best describes him in so many ways: big goals, big ideas, big dreams, big grin, big belly, and I say affectionately what most of you are probably thinking, a mouth that certainly was anything but small!

 But the biggest attribute of all, one that surpassed all the rest, is that he had a big heart.  A heart so big that it encompassed an enormous love for his family, his friends and this town he cared about so much.

When we got downstairs and began to walk to the far end of the cellar there was this particular smell that brought back memories of my childhood.  When we got closer it grew even stronger until it hit me.   There they were: electric trains!  Eddie was beaming!

“Look at this, he’d say,” as he began to make them do their magic.  He explained and showed me what each one did, what he was repairing, thoroughly enjoying this hobby.  So was I.  As I was thinking over the past few days about what I was going to say this morning, it dawned on me that Eddie was so much like a train.  He worked hard, was someone you could always count on, made a lot of noise, was always pushing or pulling to get a tough job done, and continued to run strong even as the years ran on and the miles took their toll.  He was a big heart on wheels.

While Ed may have not been the most diplomatic or politically correct person at times, you always knew where he stood.  He never sugar coated a tough issue and would back you one hundred percent if he believed in you or a particular cause.  If he didn’t, you knew the who, what, when, where, and how of why not.  He was fond of saying, “I’ve been around for a long time!” “Who do they think they’re fooling?” or “I’m too old of a cat to be...”  Well,  you know the rest of how that one goes!

There was also another side to Eddie.  Some may find it hard to believe that he had a quiet side too, but he did; where he quietly did much for many, never wanting a lot of people to know how generous he was in helping those who needed help in so many ways. About a month ago when I was out walking my dog Eddie pulled up in that big Lincoln.  He rolled down the window and like a scene out of the Godfather said, “Get in.”  I suggested that I bring the dog home so it didn’t make a mess of the car.  He said, “Don’t worry about it, the dog’s probably cleaner than you are!”  Typical Ed.  We drove around town for almost an hour, and it will be something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. 

Ed wasn’t well.  He knew it, and I knew it too; probably in more detail than he did.  As we drove around he pointed out all the good things, and some of the bad, giving me an Eddie Borges perspective on life and an invaluable lesson.  “I’ve lived a good life” he told me, “But I’m getting tired.”  One thing he said sticks out my mind, something that I will never forget.  He said, “It’s a shame that some people don’t realize what we have here.”  This reinforced what I already had known for many years: how much he loved this town, its’ beauty, its’ people, its’ politics, and especially its’ fire department.

On many an occasion, as he did again on that Sunday as we talked about the fire department did he tell me, “I only want what’s good for my boys.”  How  proud he would have been to see all of those from the department who came to pay their respects, and the many from not only the Bristol Fire Department, but from surrounding departments as well that are here this morning.  How happy he’d be that his last ride is on Engine 10 and that his beloved Engine 1 will toll its’ bell at the cemetery, sounding the recall, the signal to come home.

And if you ever had occasion to see him in action politically, what an experience!  He didn’t care whether you were running for town council, or US Senator, he asked the tough questions.  Whether it was about health care or “notch babies,” after making his points his last question always was, “OK, so now what are you going to do for Bristol?”  This was vintage Ed, the last of a vanishing breed.  Not what’s in it for me, but how is it going to help others?

 It is any wonder that for three hours last night there was a steady line of people, some who waited for forty five minutes in line to pay their respects?  It has been said that the best measure of a man can be made by asking the question, “Has the world been made a better place because he was in it?”  I’m sure we all know that answer to that.  The last time I saw Ed has last words to me as I was leaving were, “Thank you Dave.”  Well now it’s my turn to say thank you.  Thank you for all you’ve done for your country.  Thank you for all you’ve done for your town.

And thank you for being my friend, for always being there for me.  I will always be proud to be “One of your boys.” (author)  David E. Barboza, St. Elizabeth’s Church, November 24, 1999

 Click on photo for larger view. Bristol Phoenix,  Bristol, R. I. Thursday, November 24, 1999   Former Fire Chief Edward R Borges, 74, of 22 Manchester Street died Saturday, Nov 20, 1999, at Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, following a courageous battle with cancer. A lifelong Bristol resident, he was the husband of Theresa B (Sousa) Borges, and the son of the late Antonio Raposa and Fortunata (DaSilva) Borges. He was one of the most colorful public officials in Bristol's post-World War II era. He was the owner and operator of Empire Bottling Works for half a century, and was among the heavyweights of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee, the wellspring of Bristol politics. His plant on Buttonwood Street was the party's command post during the years when he served as its chairman.

   Chief Borges' favored pickup truck Click on photo for larger view. He was chief of the Bristol Fire Department from 1971 until his retirement in 1984. Before that he served as captain of the Hydraulion Engine and Hose Company No 1. He was the last of the politically appointed fire chiefs, and the first permanent chief to serve under the town's new charter. His tenure was marked by a swift growth in the services of the fire department's rescue squad.

He was a natural leader whose skills were honed in the old Perry Plat section of town, his lifelong bailiwick. He came of age in World War II as a deck-gunner in the Atlantic, one of the Navy's most rough and tumble assignments.

His service in the US Navy's Armed Guard was one of the proudest accomplishments in his long career. In this role he made 24 round-trip crossings aboard Liberty ships as a gunner. He often recalled the close calls and good times he had in European ports where his ship was unloading tanks, planes and ammunition, many times under fire. Currently his Navy ties are being carried on by his daughter, Linda, who is a captain in the US Naval Reserve.

He was a member of Kearney Post of the American Legion, the Anthony C Almeida Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the World War II Armed Guard Association, and the Dom Luiz Filipe Society.

He was proud of his family roots in the Açores and on several occasions visited his father¹s hometown of Relva in São Miguel. He enjoyed family feasts with his cousins and on occasion hosted officials of the Ponta Delgada Fire Department to a fraternal banquet he described as a feed.

His last years were difficult because of several operations and recurring health problems. His wife Terri, son Eddie Jr, daughter Linda, and his five grandchildren, along with sister and friends, did much to keep up his spirits. Until the end he was driving his car around town and held court on a daily basis with his friends at his Manchester Street home.

A little-known side of Eddie Borges was his fascination with model electric trains. Over the years he collected dozens of old Lionel trains, patiently restoring them and adding them to his remarkable assemblage. He enjoyed operating up to a dozen trains at once on his tracks.

He was an accomplished mechanic, electrician and plumber, all of which helped him in his business and hobby. He was highly regarded in the soft drink bottling trade for his skills in restoring ancient equipment and was called in for advice by many of his contemporaries. This and many other acts of kindness earned Eddie Borges the accolade, He has a heart of gold. Some would add, His bark was bigger than his bite!

He also enjoyed hamming it up, especially in the 1960s when the Hydraulion's put on local stage shows. He had no hesitation about performing before a large crowd. Eddie was the last of a vanishing breed, said Town Councilor David Barboza. He was an old school firefighter and an old school politician. He was someone I admired and respected. Mr Barboza said Mr Borges headed the Bristol Fire Department during the critical period in the '70s when firefighting was evolving into a science.

In addition to his wife, he leaves a son, Edward R Borges Jr, a daughter, Linda Lou Dubois, and a sister, Mary Pacheco, all of Bristol, and five grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Joseph R Borges and Antonio R Borges Jr. Funeral services will be held today, Nov 24, at 8 am from the George C Lima Funeral Home, with a Mass of Christian burial at 9 am in St Elizabeth¹s Church. Burial will be in St Mary's Cemetery.

His body was  carried to the church and cemetery on the Hydraulion's 1934 Ahrens- Fox pumper, Engine 10. A fire department honor guard led by Fire Chief David Sylvaria  escorted  his body, and all Bristol fire apparatus were  present at the church in honor of the deceased leader. (author) Roswell Bosworth, Jr.,  Publisher Emeritus of the "East Bay Newspapers"  

What will be the destiny of Chief Eddie Borges' electric trains?

First his family has to decide. Just a thought: Could the entire remarkable assemblage be acquired and be displayed at the Mosaico Museum for everyone to enjoy, special the young of Bristol? 

How much will it cost? Who will assume the responsibility of its protection and functioning? These are tough questions for the Bristol Fire Department to think about. 

Could it be done? In Bristol?  Oh! Yes! Look what happened to Linden Place, to Blithewold,  to Mount Hope Estate, and to the Christmas Lights in the center of the town!  If it is something good, positive, like renaissance, you can be sure the people Bristol will attain it! (author) Manuel Luciano da Silva MD

 
163^rd Year, No. 48                   Bristol, R. I. Thursday, November 24, 1999  
The Portuguese Page", published by the 4 "East Bay Newspapers"
 Editor: Luis Dias Martins

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