NEW BEDFORD – Longtime New Bedford School Committee member Joaquim “Jack” Nobrega has died.

Nobrega, who served 42 years on the School Committee before opting not to seek re-election in 2017, was 88 years old.

In a statement on his personal Facebook page Monday evening, City Councilor-at-Large Ian Abreu wrote:

“Rest In Peace to Mr. Joaquim “Jack” Nobrega.

Mr. Nobrega did a lot for our community, and served it well for decades as an elected School Committee member, Prince Henry Society Member, former Feast of the Blessed Sacrament President, and was a champion for many other local philanthropic causes as well.

I remember when my grandfather, Ernie, passed away in 2005, Jack was one of the first people to reach out (they had played basketball together during the old “Vocational” days). That meant a lot to me and my dad’s side of the family.

He certainly left his mark on our city, and we were a better placed when he lived in it.

God Bless him and his entire family.”

Nobrega spent his entire life advocating for and teaching the children of New Bedford. A 1949 graduate of New Bedford High, the North End native then served in the Air Force as a staff sergeant before becoming an insurance salesman. Nobrega also worked at the New Bedford Housing Authority from 1969-96, and continued to work as a part-time administrator for the Secretary of State’s office in Fall River well into his 80s.

He also served as a basketball coach at Holy Family Holy Name High School from 1960-67, leading the team to multiple state championships. There, he coached Paul Walsh, Jr., who later became Bristol County District Attorney, and Nobrega worked in public relations for his office from 1997 to 2006.

Nobrega was first elected to the New Bedford School Committee in 1975, and served until 2017, when he opted not to seek re-election.

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