Arthur Francis Cabral, 69, of Franklin, MA, formerly of Holliston, MA, passed away on Sunday, June 9, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer.  Born in Norristown, PA, he was the son of the late Edith I. (Gosnell) and William A. Cabral.  He was the husband of Mary Catherine (Cetrone) Cabral for 20 years, after which time they divorced, but continued to share their family home raising their children together as partners, soulmates, and best friends.  They remarried in early 2024, and when the time comes, they will be buried together. 

While working his way through Boston College, where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Arthur started his career in 1974 working for the City of Newton as an Accounts Payable Clerk under the administration of Mayor Theodore Mann.  By 1981, he had obtained a certificate from Northeastern University in Building Technology and Facilities Management, and Arthur transferred to the Public Buildings Department, where he began a fulfilling career as a Budget and Project Specialist until his retirement.  

During his 50 year tenure with the City of Newton, Art worked under four different Public Building Commissioners, but the one he most admired was his last one, Public Buildings Commissioner Josh Morse, a well organized, strong, exemplary leader, who  recognized the wealth of experience, decades of knowledge, and sharp memory for detail that Art brought to the job, and gave Art the freedom to do his job unencumbered.  Arthur’s career in Public Buildings flourished under Josh’s leadership, and Art was proud of the many, many proud accomplishments they made together as a team.  Art also greatly admired Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, and had a great deal of respect for her hard work and dedication to the City of Newton.     

Art was the proud father of two incredible sons with whom he shared his love of baseball.  We called Art “Mr. Baseball” because with his sharp memory for detail, he could ace any trivia game if the subject was baseball.  Art played baseball as a kid, and delighted in seeing his sons follow in his footsteps–producing an eventual pitcher (older son) and a catcher (younger son.)  He coached them from their early years of T-ball through their high school baseball years.  Art arranged his work schedule so that he never missed a game.  He was always there to cheer them on–rain or shine.  Later, Art became the Official Scorekeeper for our younger (now adult) son’s softball teams throughout the years.  The guys would give him a team jersey, and always included Art in their team photo.  Art rooted for the New York Yankees (but, we never held that against him) and one of our dearest memories was visiting (the old) Yankee Stadium for a Red Sox vs. Yankees game with the kids when they were teenagers.  He also took the boys to Cooper’s Town.  I knew I had a baseball fanatic when our first date was a ballgame, and our first trip (after we married) was to Cooper’s Town so he could show me his favorite players.  

Art also enjoyed the ocean and visiting Cape Cod every summer.  We owned two timeshares, and we spent family time on the beach and at the pool, where he taught the boys to swim.  He enjoyed the batting cages with the boys, mini-golf, go-carts, and the trampolines.  Art loved all kinds of sports, and passed that love on to our sons, and of course, he’d make time to watch the Cape Cod Baseball League, where the “scouts” would come out to look for promising new players.   

In addition to his wife, Arthur is survived by his two sons, Andrew Francis Cabral of Franklin, MA, and Matthew James Cabral and his wife, Renee Marie (Chicco) Cabral of Holliston, MA.  He also leaves behind his brother, William Cabral and his wife, Ann, of Hampstead, NH, David Kandar and his wife, Mary, of Belchertown, MA, Jeffrey Kandar and his wife, Lynn, of Easton, MA, Maureen (Proia) Cabral, widow of his brother, Robert Cabral, of Watertown, MA, and several much-loved nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Arthur is also pre-deceased by his loving sister, Patricia Cabral, and stepmother, Patricia (Deagle) Cabral.

Visitation will take place on Sunday, June 23rd from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Chesmore Funeral Home, 854 Washington Street, Holliston, MA.  A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 8 Church Street, Holliston, MA, with interment following at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Holliston, MA.  (Located at the corner of Fiske Street and Central Street.) In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holliston Youth Baseball and Softball Association (HYBSA), P.O. Box 6066, Holliston, MA 01746.