Jose Antonio Salgado

Jose Antonio Salgado, 57, was a devoted husband, loving father and proud grandfather whose warmth and work ethic left a mark on Bridgeport’s Hollow neighborhood. Born June 5, 1957, in Sapiaos, Boticas, Portugal, Jose came to the United States in 1975 and made Bridgeport his home. After years working as a machine operator with the Laborers Union, he followed his entrepreneurial spirit and in 1991 opened Sapiao’s Grocery, a neighborhood fixture where generations shopped and where Jose greeted customers with steady, familiar kindness.

A hardworking man who found pleasure in simple, wholehearted things, Jose took pride in his garden and tended his fig trees with care. He enjoyed following his favorite soccer team, S.L. Benfica, and treasured time spent with family. Those who knew him remember a man who found joy in everyday moments—helping neighbors, keeping watch over his store, and celebrating family gatherings.

Jose is remembered with love by his wife of 37 years, Maria; his two children, Jose D. Salgado and Rosa Ferreira; his cherished granddaughter, Anabella Ferreira; his mother, Aurelina Monteiro Salgado; brothers Artur, Joao, Acacio and Carlos Salgado; and many nieces, nephews and friends. He was predeceased by his father, Albino Salgado, and his sister, Palmida Salgado.

Funeral services were held in mid-April 2015 with visitation at Abriola Parkview Funeral Home and a Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Church, followed by entombment at St. Michael’s Cemetery. In Bridgeport, Sapiao’s Grocery and the surrounding community mourned a steady presence whose daily care and hospitality shaped neighborhood life. He will be remembered for his dedication to family, his gentle generosity, and the quiet pleasures of a life lived tending garden, store and loved ones.