John V. Britto
John V. Britto, 87, of Schofield Street, Fox Point, passed away on Monday, January 25, 2021 at the Phillip Hulitar Hospice Center. He was the husband of the late Eufemia “Fama” (Brito) Britto.
Born in Providence, he was a son of the late Joao and Rufina (Silva) Britto. Mr. Britto was the Athletic Director at the Fox Point Boys & Girls Club before retiring. He also worked as a Longshoreman for many years. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. Through out his life, Mr. Britto always had a love for sports. He played short term for the Harlem Globetrotters, until an injury prevented him from playing any further, and also played on the New York Yankees farm team. In the early 1990’s the neighborhood basketball courts were named in his honor. He received numerous awards some including, Community Hero, Jefferson Award, Basketball Hall of Fame, Mr. Boys & Girls Club, Urban League and the Key to Success. Of all the awards that he received, the most recent and meaningful was a proclamation from the City of Providence that will soon rename our street to “Britto Way” in honor of both of our parents. He credits so much to his beautiful wife, Fama. He was a member of the Fox Point Point Boys & Girls Club Alumni, a communicant of Our Lady of the Rosary Church and also attended the March on Washington. Mr. Britto was a friend and huge fan of Frank Sinatra. When Mr. Sinatra came to town, he would give tickets to his performance to our father. Out of all the accolades that he received during his life there was nothing more important to him than his faith and his family.
He leaves five children with his wife, John Britto, Anthony Britto and his wife Stacey, Donna Silva and her husband Francis, Karen Britto, Robert Britto and his wife Danielle and the late Denise “Dee Dee” Britto, he also leaves four additional children, Beth Thomas, Rodney Perry, Taylor Britto and Mindy Britto, one brother, Antone Britto and ten grandchildren. He was the brother of the late Francisco “Chico” Britto, Vincent Britto, Joseph Britto, Sylvester Britto, Mary Britto and Louisa Britto.
Given the state of the current pandemic, funeral services will be private. The funeral Mass can be viewed via Facebook Live on the “Our Lady of the Rosary Church” Facebook page. At the conclusion of the funeral service you are welcome to follow the family to the cemetery, drive past the chapel and safely pay your respects from your vehicles. If you plan on doing so, please be at Our Lady of the Rosary Church on Friday, January 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM. In addition to staying in your vehicles we ask that you not congregate with guests outside of your own vehicle and that there is a constant flow of entering and exiting the cemetery.
