Retired director embodied 'service above self'

The town’s longtime civil defense director retires

By Joan D. Warren
Posted 2/22/17

After more than 42 years as Barrington’s civil defense director, Victor Teixeira has retired.

Mr. Teixeira began as civil defense director in 1974 and served under three different town …

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Retired director embodied 'service above self'

The town’s longtime civil defense director retires

Posted

After more than 42 years as Barrington’s civil defense director, Victor Teixeira has retired.

Mr. Teixeira began as civil defense director in 1974 and served under three different town managers; Bob Schiedler, Dennis Phelan and Peter DeAngelis.

Barrington Fire Chief Gerald Bessette has taken over the position, according to Barrington Town Manager James Cunha.

“The title of civil defense director has been changed to emergency management director to better align with other local, state and federal agencies. The position is being very capably filled by the town’s fire chief, Gerry Bessette,” Mr. Cunha said.

Those who know Mr. Teixeira will quickly say that he is a humble man, the kind of person who puts others before himself. He has made many contacts in town through his business, Vic’s Texaco on Maple Avenue.

His daughter Mary Teixeira said her father has always been a giver and was a natural fit for the job.

“When help was needed in various situations, the town often came to him asking for people to volunteer or assist in some manner so eventually he was asked to be the civil defense director,” she said.

She said that when he took the job, he invested in a generator system for the family home because he told his wife that when a hurricane or snowstorm occurred he might not be able to be with the family for extended periods of time. He wanted to be sure the family would be all right on its own.

“The needs of townspeople came first because that was his duty. It was a prophetic statement and a wise investment,” Mary said.

“During the Blizzard of 1978, before the advent of cell phones and emails, his family barely saw him for an entire week," said Mr. Cunha. "A seriously ill boy was airlifted from his home in Barrington to Rhode Island Hospital with the help of Victor and his volunteers. During hurricanes, snowstorms and power outages Vic opened shelters and was a friendly and comforting face for those who needed help."

“Throughout the years, he left his business often to take care of emergency management issues. We, his family, knew we were expected to hold down the fort both at home and at his business to free him up to carry out the duties he had promised he would," Mary said.

It was especially important to be there for the elderly, who often did not have families around and just wanted to be at the shelter to feel that they were safe and not alone during bad weather events. The same faces showed up whenever the need arose to open a shelter and they were always grateful that a friendly face was there to ride out the storm with them.

“It was the perfect route of public service for him," said Mary. "Being the civil defense director was all about putting others first, something he still does today, visiting friends, neighbors and former customers at over 12 nursing homes every Sunday. It was something he enjoyed doing and was always very proud of."

Mr. Teixeira retired from emergency management last November. His wife Dorothy has been deceased for 24 years and he endowed the Dorothy M. Teixeira Memorial Scholarship through Community Scholarship Fund in remembrance of her.

Mr. Teixeira has owned his business for 55 years and is still working. Originally from Bristol, he moved to Barrington 60 years ago when he married Dorothy.

“Through his actions over the past 42 years, Vic Teixeira has set an example for service above self. He deserves the gratitude of all members of our community,” Mr. Cunha said.

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