Antonio Borges Pinheiro

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Earned His Wings

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Antonio Borges PINHEIRO on June 27th, 2025, in his eighty-seventh year.

Dearly beloved son of the late Jose and Amelia Pinheiro, Antonio—a hard-nosed soul from birth—was the third eldest among the boys in the family. If there were ever a king in Ribeira Grande – Matriz, he would have been sixth in line to the throne among his seven other siblings.

In 1965, he felt a strong urge to join his brothers and sisters in Canada, where life was good in Montreal, Quebec. With strong, calloused farmer’s hands, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean and landed in La Belle Province on an agricultural visa, where he picked tobacco for Du Maurier.

In 1967, he returned to São Miguel, Açores, where he married the love of his life, Palmira Moniz. Together, they made a home in a modest semi-detached house on Vodden Street in Brampton, Ontario. They were blessed with four children: Ryta, Belinha, Antonio, and Emanuel—identical twins.

Antonio was a dedicated entrepreneur, running a successful home delivery service of soda pop (laranjada). He built a well-established clientele within the Portuguese community throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Wherever Antonio went, it was rare for him not to run into someone he knew.

While growing his business, Antonio remained close to his roots. He purchased a home off McLaughlin Road, where he recreated the feel of home—raising livestock, planting fruit trees, and cultivating vegetable patches. His garden was not just a hobby; it was a passion that kept him grounded and fulfilled.

A man of many accomplishments, Antonio was above all a supportive husband, a loving father, and a loving father-in-law to Paul (Ryta), Kieth (Belle), Charlene (Manny) and Michelle (Tony) cherished Vovô (grandfather) to his eight grandchildren: Natasha (Jonathan), Kolby, Joshua, Thomas, Sydney, Sienna, Joseph, and Michael.

We are so very proud of our dad, who lived a full and meaningful life. His firm resolve, charm, endless wit, and love touched all who knew him.