Al Almada

Alfred Rezendes Almada, 98, of West Hartford, CT, passed away at his assisted-living home in Haddam, CT on February 3, 2026. Born in Hartford, CT, to Maria Cabral Alberto San Miguel Almada and Francisco Rezendi Almada. His family returned to the Azores when he was two, where he was raised on the island of St. Michael, returning to Connecticut at the age of twelve. He was a communicant of St. Peter Claver Church. He served in the Navy during WWII. He worked for many years in manufacturing in Hartford and served for a time as an Auxiliary State Police officer. During much of his life he worked multiple jobs to support his family, especially while he and his wife built their business. Al and his wife, Virginia, owned Almada Molded Shoes and Shoe Repair where he crafted custom orthopedic shoes and repaired shoes along with his son, Ed. He was widely known for his expertise and craftsmanship, and his shoes were sought after by people from as far away as China. His shoes brought comfort and enhanced mobility for those with disabilities and injuries. Al was a determined individual, undeterred by his lack of formal education and childhood poverty. When he decided on a course of action, he could not be stopped. Al achieved his pilot’s license, was an avid and talented bowler and began playing amateur Jai Alai in his forties. Jai Alai became a passion for him and yielded many cherished friendships. He was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Virginia [Chaves] Almada, and his brothers: Manual Almada and Albert Almada. He leaves behind his son Edmund F. Almada and wife Nancy Sacherek of West Hartford; three daughters: Nancy A. Balles and her husband Thomas Balles, of Laurel Maryland, Diane J. Almada and her husband Joseph Szwec, of Trumbull, CT, and Valerie A. Almada and her husband Paul Boothroyd, of East Haddam, CT. He also leaves behind two grandchildren: Katherine Harman Philipp and her husband Michael Philipp of Alexandria, VA and Matthew Harman of Orleans, MA, as well as two great-grandsons, Owen and Eric Philipp. He will be missed greatly by his family and his many dear friends, leaving us all with wonderful memories. Friends and family may call Sunday February 8, from 3-6 pm at the Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave. W. Hartford. His funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday February 9, at 10:00 am at St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant St. West Hartford. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. “Live your life in such a way that even the funeral director is sad to see you go.” W.C.Molloy