Manuel Ferreira

Manuel Ferreira, one of the leading figures in Azorean journalism, a renowned commentator, and one of the greatest names in the literature of the islands, passed away on 1 December 2012 in Ponta Delgada at the age of 96.

He was born in Ponta Delgada on 29 January 1916 and, while still in high school, emerged into journalism by founding «Arco Íris». The golden years of his career as a journalist were lived between 1937 and 1975, a period in which he was the editor-in-chief of both the «Açoriano Oriental» and «Correio dos Açores» newspapers. A municipal employee, Manuel Ferreira, practiced journalism and served as a commentator with a fervent autonomist spirit in a time prior to the professionalization of newsrooms.

After the 25th of April, he dedicated himself to fiction, writing what is still his most famous work today, «O Barco e o Sonho» (The Boat and the Dream), a tale inspired by a true and desperate story of emigration of two young men from São Miguel to the United States, through a dangerous crossing of the Atlantic in a small handcrafted vessel. This work was adapted for television by José Medeiros, with an RTP-Açores series that helped to further immortalize the narrative.

His vast bibliography also includes other works of historical and literary research, centered on the Azorean reality and Ponta Delgada, including titles that document emigration, social life, and the culture of the islands.

Manuel Ferreira was highly decorated for his contributions, receiving the Autonomous Insignia of Recognition of the Region and the Municipal Gold Medal for the 460th anniversary of the city of Ponta Delgada. He is also an Honorary Citizen of the municipalities of Vila Franca do Campo and Santa Cruz das Flores. Since 2008, he has also had a street named after him in Ponta Delgada.

His work and his contribution to Azorean culture were subsequently recognized and valued by various writers and scholars of the islands’ literature, including Onésimo Teotónio Almeida, Álamo Oliveira, and Daniel de Sá, who highlighted the importance of his writing in the preservation of the Azorean social and cultural memory.

His funeral took place after a funeral mass at the Sant’Anna Chapel in Ponta Delgada, proceeding to the São Joaquim Cemetery, where the body was cremated. The ceremony was attended by family, friends, and numerous personalities from Azorean journalism and culture, witnessing the admiration and recognition for the life and work of Manuel Ferreira