Rosa Tavares Pinho, a remarkable woman who passed away on August 21, 2023, at the age of 89, left an indelible mark on the Portuguese community in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Born on December 6, 1933, in Ovar, Portugal, Rosa immigrated to the United States at the tender age of 18 months. She settled in Elizabeth, where she spent most of her life, attending Saint Patrick’s from 1st to 12th grade and becoming a proud US citizen at the age of 17.
Rosa’s father, Anibal Lopes Tavares, was a founding member of both the Portuguese Instructive Social Club and the Elizabeth Portuguese soccer team, both of which played a pivotal role in shaping her life and instilling in her a deep passion for her heritage and community. From a young age, Rosa embraced her Portuguese roots, attending Portuguese school and joining the P.I.S.C. youth group at the age of 13. She was an active member of the “Grupo Cenico,” the dramatic group of the Portuguese club which performed plays, musical revues and folklore dances, further nurturing her lifelong love for the performing arts.
During her formative years, P.I.S.C. was located on Third Street in Elizabethport, which Rosa fondly remembered as the heart of all community activities. Her involvement in P.I.S.C. and the Portuguese community laid the foundation for her remarkable life and the contributions she made to the Elizabeth Portuguese community, which she always described as extended family. It was at P.I.S.C. that Rosa met her future husband, Manuel Dias Pinho. Following her lead, he too became deeply involved in the community. They married on May 12, 1956 and settled in Elizabeth, where they raised two daughters, Elena and Rosemarie.
Throughout her life, as the community grew and evolved, Rosa took on various roles. Apart from her long-standing involvement with the club’s drama group, she was a strong supporter of the club’s construction at its location on Rte. 1 becoming a member of the inauguration committee for the club’s new building. Her dedication also led her to other roles within P.I.S.C. She was secretary of the club’s reorganization committee, the Ladies Auxiliary, the P.I.S.C. General Assembly and the Old Youth. In 1976 she worked on the club’s planning committee for the Bicentennial Parade (for which she made costumes for the representatives on the “Torre de Belem” float) and also rekindled the folklore group with her cousin Jack Sousa, that took the name Cantares e Dancas de Portugal, sewing the costumes that were worn for the Festas dos Santos Populares and the first flag of the group. During this time, she was also the moderator for the New Youth, which she reorganized in 1972 and continued to oversee until 1977. The Youth, for the remainder of her life, held a special place in her heart.
Rosa’s commitment also extended beyond the club. She was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Elizabeth from its inception in 1973. In 1978, she joined the Rosary Society as its treasurer before becoming its president for several years. She also served as president of the Filantropica Ovarense and as treasurer for the Portuguese Continental Union Lodge 21 (now Luso American Financial). Even after moving to Highlands, NJ in 1996, and joining several community organizations there, Rosa continued her service to the church as a member of the decoration committee. Although she was never one to seek out the spotlight, as she preferred to remain in any position that did not require giving speeches, she never said no to anything that was asked of her.
Throughout her life, Rosa held various jobs, but her most significant contribution was in the financial office at Kean College (now Kean University) in Union. To this day, she is fondly remembered as the “go-to” person and one who was always ready to help coworkers and students alike. She retired in 1994, leaving behind a legacy of service and dedication, for which she was recognized by the State of New Jersey.
As she grew older, Rosa remained proud of her Portuguese heritage and made it a priority to ensure that her children, granddaughters and great-grandchildren understood the significance of P.I.S.C., Our Lady of Fatima Church and the surrounding community she so loved.