Paulino Ferraz Oliveira - Obituary

aulino Oliveira, 85, a resident of Germantown, Maryland passed away peacefully on October 17, 2022 after suffering a stroke. Born to Julio Oliveira and Marcolina DaSilva on April 15, 1937 in Bahia, the north of Brazil, on a remote cattle ranch, Paulino was the eldest of seven children. While dealing with the realities of farm life, Paulino and his extended family handled the cattle, farming, and care of his siblings. After his father and mother relocated to Sao Paulo, Paulino started a job at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church publishing house, where he discovered his passion for singing bass and sacred music- both quartets and choral groups. While working at the Church publishing house, he learned from friends of adventure and opportunity in the United States. With the support and assistance of friends in the Fall River and New Bedford areas of Massachusetts, Paulino immigrated to the US in 1965. The following is an excerpt from the sponsorship letter sent to Brazil in support of his immigration visa: “We want to sponsor [Paulino] knowing that he is a talented young man, who has ambition and high goals in mind. We are sure that he will realize them here and give a good contribution to our great society and culture.” (Letter sent to the Brazilian Consulate in Sao Paulo dated August 30, 1965) In New Bedford, Paulino led the bachelor life, where he also first met his future wife of 52 years, drove his Ford Mustang, and enjoyed his first Thanksgiving Dinner in November, 1965. From then on, Thanksgiving became his favorite holiday where he thanked the US, family, and God for all of his blessings. Paulino relocated to Takoma Park, Maryland where he again re-connected with Neide. They were married and settled down to their new life and family. Paulino joined several area choral groups, having quickly earned a reputation for an impeccable ear singing bass as a self-taught musician. Among some of his favorite performances was G.F. Handel’s Messiah, which he performed at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. Classical vocal music remained a passion for his entire life. Living up to the 1965 immigration sponsorship letter, Paulino, with his wife’s support and companionship, began his own business, Oliveira Painters. Through his attention to detail, commitment to his customers, and integrity, Paulino with the help of his brother Samuel built up the business in Silver Spring for over 50 years, allowing his wife to focus on the family. In the end, his customers included many notable figures in the Washington, DC area. He passed his business on to Marcos, who continues the tradition of residential painting. Upon retiring, Paulino began to devote more time to the Triadelphia and Burnt Mills Adventist churches in Maryland, as well as missionary work in Brazil. On Sabbath afternoons, after potluck lunches or lunch with his wife, Paulino could be found visiting the sick, the shut-in, and evangelizing in the Silver Spring area. After decades of life in Silver Spring, Paulino and Neide downsized to a home in Germantown, Maryland in 2020. Principles that Paulino exemplified included integrity, reliability, kindness, family, God, and Church. Paulino will not only be remembered for his principles, but for the following fun facts. For nearly 50 years, Paulino worked 6 days per week; rain, snow, sleet or sun. (It helped to have fresh homemade lunches nearly every day, thanks to his wife, along with occasional painting help from his young children.) He didn’t mind navigating beltway traffic…in fact, he knew every in and out and shortcut in Montgomery County and Northwest DC. Whether painting for a cabinet-level official, top chef in DC, famous author, or an everyday person, he treated everyone in the same genuine way, and many long-time clients treated him like family. Paulino rarely, if ever, honked his work van horn, as he did not believe it was necessary. He loved the countryside in West Virginia and western Maryland, where he loved to play the guitar and listen to the sounds of nature. Later in life, he traded the guitar for a harmonica to play “happy birthday to you” to family members. Incredibly, he never used Chapstick for his lips, and said he’d never had a headache. Paulino was not only generous with family and the church, but he loved animals and always fed all the pets in the extended family under the table. While he did not like ice cream, he never met a cookie he didn’t like- especially if made by a granddaughter. Paulino’s legacy included his company, Oliveira Painters, and his children and grandchildren who he loved dearly, including three family members in the US federal government service. His efforts to spread the gospel in Brazil and assist the needy there continue on. Among his family in the United States, Paulino is survived by his wife, Neide Oliveira; children, Claudia Teague (Sean) and Marcos Oliveira; grandchildren, Katie and Natalie Teague and Abby Oliveira; brother, Samuel DaSilva; and nephew, Paulo Baesse (Cassiah) and their son Gabriel. He is also survived by family in Brazil, including two brothers, two sisters, and various cousins, nieces, and nephews. Please leave a condolence for the family by signing the guestbook at the Memories tab located on the left side of this page.