Obituaries

Related: Death Notices

*Index*
Lorreta D. Falk	Joseph G. Jardin
John P. Cleaver	Edward M. Phelan, 91
Tina M. Frenette	Manuel Menezes

Morris Udall, 30-year congressman, 76 By Joseph Schuman, Associated Press writer

WASHINGTON -- Former Rep. Morris K. Udall, a 30-year congressman who championed environmental causes and wryly lamented he was too funny to be president, has died after a long struggle with Parkinson's disease. He was 76.

Udall died late Saturday at the U.S. Veterans Medical Center in Washington, according to Chris Helms, head of a Udall family foundation in Tucson, Ariz.

A Democrat and member of one of Arizona's best-known families, Udall, known as "Mo," remained one of the most consistent voices of liberalism in the House, whatever the political winds sweeping the country.

"Mo Udall was a leader whose uncommon wisdom, wit and dedication won the love of his colleagues and the respect of all Americans," President Clinton said in a statement yesterday. Clinton awarded Udall the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996.

During the 1970s, Udall failed in two tries to win election as House speaker, and he ran unsuccessfully in 1976 as an alternative to Jimmy Carter in the Democratic presidential primaries.

Udall's self-deprecating wit and easy manner made him in demand as a master of ceremonies at many Washington events, where his humor was often the highlight of an evening.

"He first taught me that humor is essential to the workings of a strong democracy," Udall's son, Mark, who was elected to Congress from Colorado last month, said yesterday. "He taught me to take your work seriously, but not yourself too seriously."

Dubbed "Second Place Mo" in a song written by reporters who covered the 1976 primaries, Mo Udall was quick to laugh and even profit from being the butt of other people's jokes.

"The core of my dad was that if you believe in yourself, even if someone is having fun at your expense, it could work to your benefit," Mark Udall said.

In one story Mo Udall often told, he walked into a New Hampshire barbershop, introduced himself and said he had just announced his candidacy for president. The barber replied, "We were just laughing about it this morning."

David Broder, a longtime political reporter for The Washington Post and Udall's friend, once said, "Mo Udall wanted to run for president in the worst way, and he did."

And Udall titled his 1988 book, "Too Funny to be President."

Udall's nephew, Tom Udall, also elected to Congress last month, from New Mexico, called his uncle "a wonderful man. He was humorous and very giving."

Mo Udall's health had deteriorated in recent years with the progressive worsening of Parkinson's disease, a degenerative neurological illness. His congressional career ended in January 1991, when he broke a shoulder and ribs and suffered a concussion falling down stairs at his Arlington, Va., home. He had not been able to talk since, Mark Udall said.

Udall had been particularly effective as chairman of the House Interior Committee, a position he held from 1976 until he left Congress. He shepherded passage of a measure to designate 8 million acres of federal lands as wilderness in 1984; a ban on development on millions of acres in Alaska in 1980; strip-mining control legislation in 1977; and a nuclear waste management policy in 1982. He was also a leader in civil service reforms and worked to change campaign finance laws.

Among what Udall considered his crowning congressional achievements was the Central Arizona Project, a multibillion-dollar series of aqueducts to carry Colorado River water from the California border to Phoenix and Tucson.

Udall practiced law with his brother, Stewart, after graduating from the University of Arizona law school in 1949. When Stewart, then a congressman, was tapped to serve as President Kennedy's interior secretary in 1961, Morris won the seat in a close special election.

He easily kept the seat in successive elections, winning his last in November 1990 with 66 percent of the vote.

Udall was born June 15, 1922, in St. Johns, Ariz., one of six children in a pioneer Mormon family. His father, Levi Udall, was chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, and his mother, Louise, was active in civic affairs.

Udall joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as a private in 1942 after concealing that he had lost an eye as a result of a childhood accident. After his discharge as a captain in 1946, he became a basketball star for the University of Arizona and was elected student body president. He briefly played for the Denver Nuggets.

Udall and his first wife, Patricia, had six children: Mark, Judith, Randolph, Anne, Bradley and Katherine. They divorced in 1966. His second wife, Ella, whom he married in 1968, killed herself in 1988. He married Norma Gilbert a year later.

He is survived by his wife, four brothers and sisters, six children, one stepson and seven grandchildren, the Morris K. Udall Foundation said. Memorial services are expected later in Tucson and Washington.

Lorreta D. Falk, 90

NEW BEDFORD Lorreta D. (Blanchard) Falk, 90, died unexpectedly Saturday, Dec. 12, 1998, at the Taber Street Nursing Home.

She was the widow of Hyman Falk and daughter of the late Joseph and Ida (Deslaurieres) Blanchard.

Mrs. Falk was a lifelong resident of New Bedford.

She was a saleswoman at the former California Shop and Mr. A's, both in New Bedford.

Survivor include a daughter, Jeanne Van Deventer of Mandeville, La.; a step-son, Alan Falk of North Dartmouth; two sisters, Blanche Mullen of Hyde Park and Margauriette Thayer of Dennis; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Fairhaven Funeral Home, 117 Main St., Fairhaven.

Arrangements are by Fairhaven Funeral Home.

Joseph G. Jardin

NEW BEDFORD -- Joseph G. Jardin, 83, of Sacred Heart Home and formerly of Central Avenue died Saturday, Dec. 12, 1998 at Sacred Heart Home, after a long illness. He was the widower of Carmella (Horta) Jardin and son of the late Joseph G. and Mary (Rebello) Jardin.

Mr. Jardin was born in Taunton and lived most of his life in New Bedford, where he was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church.

He worked at Rochester Clothing and then at Cliftex, where he worked several years. He retired at age 62.

Survivors include a daughter, Priscilla da Rosa of Fairhaven; a brother, John Carvalho of Acushnet; three sisters, Carrie Souza of Connecticut, and Alice Pereira and Clara Allain, both of Acushnet; two grandchildren; a great-grandson; and several nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Church.

Arrangements are by the Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd.

John P. Cleaver

LITTLE COMPTON, R.I. -- John P. Cleaver, 79, died at home Friday, Dec. 11, 1998, following a brief illness. He was the husband of Elizabeth Ruth Cleaver and son of the late Chester H. and Mildred D. (Day) Cleaver.

A resident of Little Compton for twenty-two years, Mr. Cleaver was born in 1919 and grew up on the New Jersey shore. He graduated from the Mercersburg Academy in 1937 where, as a member of the swim team, his life-long nickname "Clipper" was coined.

At Princeton University he was a psychology major, varsity swimmer, manager of the lacrosse team, and a member of Charter Club. He graduated from Princeton in 1941, and continued to be active in class and alumni affairs.

Mr. Cleaver began his career as an industrial engineer for Glen L. Martin Corporation of Baltimore, Maryland. After the War, Mr. Cleaver moved to Worcester. There he worked for the Worcester Chamber of Commerce Industrial Board in a program to grow small local business through improved planning and management.

In 1956 Mr. Cleaver relocated to Princeton, New Jersey, and formed the J.P. Cleaver Company, a consulting firm to help business understand the role of human behavior in the workplace. A pioneer in the field of organizational development, Mr. Cleaver developed techniques, course programs and on-going training and consulting services to grow his client organizations.

A firm believer in the valuable diversity that individuals' unique behavioral characteristics can contribute to an organization, he provided the means to educate management in the different "human factors" of jobs. Awareness of these concepts and how to most appropriately channel diverse human resources were, he believed, key to productivity and a job satisfaction. Mr. Clever ran the J.P. Cleaver Co. for forty-two years from Princeton, Boston and Little Compton. His international client base ranged from small entrepreneurial ventures to Fortune 500 companies and also included medical centers and educational institutions. He was dedicated to his work and was actively involved with his clients until his death.

Mr. Cleaver and his family spent summers from 1955 to 1985 at their cottage at Salter's Point, South Dartmouth.

Survivors include his widow; two daughters, Susan Cleaver of Brookline and Mary Cleaver of New York; a son, Chester Cleaver of New York; a brother, William P. Cleaver of Cranford, N.J.; three granddaughters; and seven nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be at 12 p.m. on January 9, 1999 at the United Congregational Church, Little Compton.

Arrangements are by the Potter Funeral Home, 81 Reed Road, Westport.

Edward M. Phelan, 91

FALL RIVER -- Edward M. Phelan, 91, of A Rolling Green Drive, Fall River, died Sunday, Dec. 13, 1998, at Charlton Memorial Hospital. He was the husband of Marie L. (Boyer) Phelan and son of the late Edward and Eleanor (Roe) Phelan.

He was born in Fall River and in his early life lived in the Maplewood Section of that city. He lived in Somerset for 36 years, where he attended St. Patrick Church, and for the last 23 years lived in the North End of Fall River, where he was a communicant of St. Joseph Church.

During World War II, he worked for the Department of Defense assigned to the United States Engineers and was later employed by Newport Finishing Co. for 21 years.

At the time of his retirement in 1972, he was head lab technician.

Mr. Phelan was very active in senior activities. He was past president of the Senior Citizen Senate of Massachusetts; past president of the Rolling Green Senior Citizens, where he served as president for 18 years; a member of the Senior Advisory Council at Charlton memorial Hospital; member of the board of directors of Bristol Elder Services; first vice chairman of the board of directors of the Fall River Council on Aging and was a Silver Hair Legislator at the Massachusetts state house.

Survivors include his widow; three daughters; Claire T. Gagne and Rosemarie Mooney, both of Fall River, and Patricia A. Gibson of Belaire Beach, Fla.; two sons; Dr. Michael W. Phelan of Mountain View, Calif. and Rev. Edward M. Phelan of Florence, Ariz.; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Rose E. Sullivan and Waring Home, 866 County St. (Rte. 138) Somerset, followed by a funeral Mass in St. Joseph Church, North Main Street, Fall River, at 10 a.m.

Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, Somerset.

Tina M. Frenette

NEW BEDFORD -- Tina M. Frenette, 19, died at home Sunday, Dec. 13, 1998, of naso-pharyngeal cancer. She was the daughter of Brian J. Cochran of Dartmouth and the late Judith (Frenette) Lowell.

She was born and educated in New Bedford and had been a lifelong resident.

Ms. Frenette worked at Shepard Clothing Co. in New Bedford and also at the China Palace on Acushnet Avenue in New Bedford.

She enjoyed camping.

Survivors include her father; a daughter, Britnee J. Luiz; her twin brother, Joshua Frenette of New Bedford; a half brother, Jeremiah Lowell of New Bedford; her step-father, James Lowell of New Bedford; her maternal grandmother, Ruth Hebert of New Bedford; her paternal grandparents, James L. and Ruthe (Finn) Cochran of Phoenix, Ariz.; and her God mother, Linda M. Haskins, who cared for her during her illness.

Arrangements are by the Donaghy Funeral Home, 465 County St., New Bedford.

Manuel Menezes

NEW BEDFORD -- Manuel Menezes, 80, of New Bedford died Saturday Dec. 12, 1998, peacefully at home in the presence of his loving wife of 51 years, Vivian (Rose) Menezes.

He was the son of the late Joao F. and Maria (Tanque) Menezes.

Mr. Menezes was a lifelong resident of New Bedford. He was a veteran of World War II who served as a sergeant in the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign.

While serving in the Philippines, he taught himself to play the guitar. Equipped with his new musical talent and his unique sense of humor, he began his vocation as a minstrel. He performed professionally with his childhood friend, Tony Duarte, as the duo "The Two of Us." He loved to make people smile and was a true entertainer.

Upon returning from the war, he worked for New Bedford Luggage and later the Acushnet Process Co. He then assumed responsibility for his father's business, Menezes Fish Market, which he ran for 25 years.

After his retirement, Mr. Memezes became a fixture on the waterfront as the "P.R." man for Crystal Ice. He was a member of the Panthers Sports and Athletic Club, the Panther's Golden Agers, and the American-Portuguese War Veterans.

Mr. Menezes was a communicant of St. Theresa's Church and an active Cursillo participant at Stonehill College.

Survivors include his widow; two sons, Sylvan Menezes of Beverly and John Menezes of Mattapoisett; a daughter, Jane Biondi of Alameda, Calif.; a brother, John F. Menezes of Mattapoisett; a sister, Mary Lou Paiva of New Bedford; five grandchildren; and numerous nieces nephews; and godchildren.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Theresa's Church.

Arrangements are by the Boulevard Funeral Home, 223 Ashley Blvd.

Burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery.