Manuel Espirito Santo Espinola Family Collection [c. 1935-1995]

Manuel Espirito Santo Espinola Family Collection [c. 1935-1995]

1935-1995 circa

This collection features images from the Espinola family of Lowell, MA. Family photographs are included, as well as photos from Lowell Lusitanos, a local Portuguese soccer club.

Biographical Sketch
Manuel Espirito Santo Espinola was born on May 19, 1929 on the island of Graciosa in the Azores. He was born to Alvaro Jose Espinola (1905-1975) and Angelina de Lourdes da Cunha Espinola (1909-1991). He married Leogilda Vieira Leandro Espinola, also from Graciosa. Leogilda was born on July 14, 1929 to Francisca Josephina Vieira Bettencourt (1891-1983) and Joaquim Leandro Sr (1881-1956).

Manuel and Leogilda had three children and, in January of 1967, decided to move to the United States. Their children are Maria de Lourdes Espinola Cardoso (b. 1957), David Manuel Espinola (b. 1960), and Helena “Linda” Maria Espinola Cunha (b. 1962). The family settled in Lowell, Massachusetts, and became active members of the Portuguese American community. They were communicants of Saint Anthony's Parish, members of the Holy Ghost Society, and members of both Portuguese Clubs. Manuel was an avid supporter of the Lowell Lusitanos, the soccer team for the Portuguese American Center (“Blues Club”), of which his son (David) and son-in-law (Valter) were Manager and Director, respectively.

Leogilda worked at the Thorndike Factory and Lawrence Maid Footwear. Manuel worked at Interstate Container and Prince Corrugated. Leogilda died in 1979 and Manuel died in 1997, leaving behind their children and seven grandchildren:

• Maria de Lourdes Espinola married Valter Jorge Cardoso (from Graciosa) in 1982. They had two daughters: Nina and Amanda Cardoso.
• David Manuel Espinola married Lucia Maria Borba (from São Jorge) in 1988. They had two daughters: Brianna and Chelsea Espinola.
• Helena “Linda” Maria Espinola married Idelberto Manuel Cunha (from Graciosa) in 1982. They had three daughters: Bonnie, Jessica, and Sarah Cunha.

Azorean Americans

Portuguese American women

Confirmation

Immigrant families

Catholic Church--Dioceses

Fasts and Feasts

Soccer

Christmas

Lowell (Mass.)

Graciosa (Azores)

Digital scans donated by Sarah Cunha.

UMass Lowell, Center for Lowell History

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