John F. Nunes

John F. Nunes, age 73, of 616 Wolcott Avenue, Middletown, died Friday December 10, 2010. He was the husband of Suzanne Hale Nunes. They were married 47 years.Born in Newport on February 9, 1937, he was the son of the late Joseph L. and Mary Medeiros Nunes.A graduate of De La Salle Academy and Providence College, class of ?59, he was the president and Co-Owner, along with his late brother Joseph Nunes, of Nunes Motor Company, a Chrysler dealership started by their father in 1919 until it?s closing in 1980. In 1980, with his brother Joe, he opened Nunes Realty, Ltd. a residential and commercial sales and real estate development company. He continued working there as president and principal broker. Included in their projects is Wyatt Square, Eastgate now ?The Winery? and East Meadow Middletown?s first cluster development. Whatever new project he started was always created to be aesthetically attractive and geared to keeping the rich farming and colonial beauty of the area intact.In 1987, he became a general partner in the formation of Blenheim Newport Retirement Community, Newport County?s first Assisted Living Community. He continued as Blenheims administrator until 1999.Mr. Nunes was active in and held a number of positions in many related industry organizations such as the New England Chrysler Advertising Group, past president of the Newport County Auto Dealers Association and charter member of the Newport County Vocational School. He was chairperson of Rhode Island Auto Dealers License Commission from 1972 to 1980. He also served on the Curriculum Review Committee for Middletown Schools under the Joseph Gaudet Administration. He was a trustee of Newport Hospital Board and a member of its building committee. He was a charter member of the Newport Sierra Club, past member of the Middletown Lions Club and Newport Knights of Columbus, past director of the Newport County YMCA and member of the building committee. He leaves two sisters, Elaine Lewis of Middletown and Leonora Murphy of Newport. His sister Mary Baker of Houston, Texas and his brother Joseph L. Nunes, Jr. precede him in death.Besides his wife Suzanne, he is survived by his daughter Kristen J. Young and her husband Ralph Young of Franklin, MA, his sons John F. Nunes, Jr. and his wife Nancy Nunes of Portsmouth, RI and Paul C. Nunes and his wife Linda Nunes of Middletown, RI. He also leaves his nine grandchildren, Molly, Jack, Michael, Mackenzie, Luke and Daniel Young, Nathan Nunes and Maizy and Maya Nunes. His love and respect for Middletown continued throughout his life. He loved taking his daily walks to Second Beach and Sachuest Point with his walking buddies, solving the problems of the town and the world. One of his proudest moments came when his sons John and Paul decided to purchase the Vinland winery property and developed it into the very successful Newport Vineyards. He loved helping in the vineyard during harvest and watching its growth year after year.He enjoyed many weekends and vacations at his second home in New Hampshire teaching his children, grandchildren and friends to waterski and downhill ski. During recent winters he enjoyed a few relaxing months in Naples, Florida, spending time playing golf with his close friends and discovering an untapped talent and love for painting. However, given all his interests and many activities, his greatest pleasure was always spending time with his wife and family. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, December 15, 2010 from 3:00-7:00pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.His funeral will be held Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 10am at St. Mary?s Church, 12 Williams Street, Newport, RI. Burial will be at St, Columba Cemetery, Brown?s Lane, Middletown, RI. Donations in his memory may be made to St. Mary?s Church, 11 William Street, Newport, RI 02840, or Hospice at Visiting Nurse of Newport and Bristol Counties, 1184 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871, or to the Aquidneck Land Trust, 790 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown, RI 02842.