Domingos “Mingo” Ramos Lopes, a Korean War veteran who spent four decades on the Rhode Island waterfront and devoted years to supporting local youth programs, died Aug. 10 at the Rhode Island Veterans Home in Bristol. He was 94.
Lopes volunteered for the U.S. Army in 1950 and served in Korea, where he was wounded in February 1951. For his service he received the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Badge, among other campaign medals. The soldier who rose to the rank of staff sergeant later described his role modestly; his name is also etched on a brick at the Korean War Memorial in Providence.
"I was just a guy."
Military honors and lifelong affiliations
After his discharge, Lopes joined the ranks of Rhode Island’s waterfront labor force as a stevedore and longshoreman. He became a devotee and leader within Local 1329 of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), serving as a union steward and as Health and Welfare Trustee for more than a decade. He retired in 1994 after approximately 40 years with the ILA.
Throughout his life Lopes remained an active member of veterans’ groups, holding lifetime memberships in both the Purple Heart and Disabled American Veterans associations. His service and sacrifice were publicly acknowledged by the state memorial in Providence, where a brick bears his name.
Community roots and support for youth
A Providence native and a graduate of Hope High School, Lopes spent his youth at the South Main Street Providence Boy’s Club, an organization that later became the Fox Point Boys and Girls Club. He both participated in and, as an adult, supported the club’s social and athletic programs and assisted in fundraising for its activities. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 1987.
Friends and relatives described Lopes as someone who valued community institutions and family ties. He is remembered by nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family members who survive him, along with his son.
Family and survivors
Lopes was predeceased by his wife, Nancy L. (Alves) Lopes, and by multiple siblings. He is survived by his son, Steven Britto, and by a wide network of nieces, nephews and extended family. The obituary notes that eleven nieces and nephews preceded him in death.
- Survived by: son Steven Britto; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews; cousins and a goddaughter; and Steven’s sister Edna Britto.
- Predeceased by: wife Nancy L. (Alves) Lopes; sister Anna Lopez; brothers John “Scuppy,” Joseph, Manuel, Antone, Matthew, Benjamin and Alexander Lopes; and eleven nieces and nephews.
Work on the waterfront and union leadership
After returning from military service, Lopes built a long career working on Rhode Island’s docks. As an ILA member he represented his colleagues at the local and sometimes international level, traveling for union business and handling responsibilities that included stewarding and administering health and welfare concerns for members. Colleagues who worked with him valued his combination of practical experience and steadfast representation.
| Service / Role | Details |
|---|---|
| Military service | Volunteer enlistee, U.S. Army; Korean War veteran; wounded in action Feb. 1951; reached rank of Staff Sergeant |
| Military honors | Purple Heart; Combat Infantry Badge; Korean Service Medal; United Nations Service Medal |
| Civilian career | Stevedore/longshoreman with Local 1329, ILA; union steward and Health and Welfare Trustee; retired 1994 |
Later life and ties beyond Rhode Island
In retirement Lopes and Nancy built a home in Palm Bay, Florida, where they spent winters for many years. He also maintained strong ties to Providence and to the Cape Verdean community; the obituary notes he was an honorary member of Cape Verdean organizations, reflecting pride in his heritage.
Funeral arrangements and additional memorial details were not provided in the notice. Family members and the organizations with which Lopes was affiliated may announce services or commemorations at a later date.
His life bridged military service, labor activism and neighborhood mentorship, leaving a footprint on Rhode Island’s waterfront and in local youth programs. Those who knew him remembered him for steady leadership, commitment to comrades and a lifelong connection to community institutions.
