Obituary of Albert P. Lopes Jr.

Albert P. Lopes Jr., 83, of Peabody, a retired Peabody Police Sergeant and well known member of the Portuguese community of Peabody, died Monday morning at the Salem Hospital after a short illness. He was the husband of the late Irene D. (Matos) Lopes who died on May 9, 2006. He was born in New Bedford on April 26, 1924, the son of the late Alberto and Alzira (Andrade) Lopes and had resided in Peabody most of his life. He had been a veteran of WW 11 serving in the US Army in the 77th division in the Asiatic and Pacific theatre campaigns and was a recipient of the Purple Heart in 1945 prior to his discharge as a corporal in 1946. Upon his return he became a master barber and was proprietor of Al’s Barber Shop on Tremont St.,Peabody, for the past sixty years. Al became a reserve police officer in 1953 and served with the Peabody Police department for over 38 years and received many citations during his police career before retiring in 1990. He was active in the CLC Soccer Team in Peabody serving as a player, coach and Manager from 1946 until 1990. Mr. Lopes was also a referee for many years with the mens’, women’s’, youth and college programs. In 2003, he was inducted into the Mass. Referees Hall of Fame. He was refereeing up until a month ago and was the oldest, active referee on the East Coast. Al was a member, director and past president of the Luso American Credit Union of Peabody. He had been appointed to Deputy Sheriff Department on Essex County in 1983. Al had been a member of the Club Luis de Camoes, Our Lady of Help Society and the Azorean Brotherhood of Divine Holy Ghost Societies of Peabody. He was also a constable and notary public and a private investigator for the Commonwealth of MA for many years. He was a member of the Portuguese American War Vets, Post 1, the American Legion, Post 153 and the VFW, Post 1011 all of Peabody. He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Peabody police Sgt. Albert P. Lopes III and Donna Lopes of Peabody, a daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Arlindo Garcia of Danvers, MA, his siblings and their spouses,, Antonio and Maria Lopes, Americo and Lorraine Lopes, Lucinda Almeida , Alzira and Manny Bettencourt, and Carmelita and Manuel Marques all of Peabody, and Doriette and Albert Paciencia and Ascencao Marques all of Portugal, a brother-in-law, Thomas Coito of Peabody, 3 grandchildren, Albert Lopes 4th and Alex Lopes both of Peabody and Lucinda Maria Garcia of Danvers, a dear friend, Duarte Barros of Peabody and several nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Maria Coito and the brother-in-law of the late George Almeida and Fernando Marques. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4:00 until 8:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody, facility. His funeral will be held on Friday at 9:00 AM from the Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Peabody at 10:00 AM. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the No Shore Cancer Center, 17 Centennial Dr., Peabody, MA 01960 in His memory.