The recent death of former Old Orchard Beach Town Councilor Dana Furtado has drawn an outpouring of shock, grief and support for his loved ones.
The bodies of Furtado, 44, and Amber Morrow, 21, of Saco, were found Monday evening in a home at 83 Cascade Road that is listed as Furtado’s business address. Old Orchard Beach police said the deaths did not appear to be suspicious, though the circumstances remain under investigation.
Dana Furtado attends an Old Orchard Beach Town Council meeting as a member of the council in 2013.
The state Medical Examiner’s Office completed autopsies on Furtado and Morrow on Wednesday, but the cause of death won’t be announced until toxicology tests are completed, which could take as long as two weeks, said Mark Belserene, office administrator.
Police Chief Dana Kelley’s office didn’t respond to a request for additional information about the case or the people involved.
Dozens of longtime friends, colleagues and acquaintances are remembering Furtado as a dedicated public servant, frequent community volunteer and loving father of two.
Assistant Town Manager Louise Reid last saw Furtado while the two were volunteering at the polls during the November election.
“He was always very pleasant to work with,” Reid said. “I remember thinking that I wished we had more time to talk about family and friends, because I felt there was more to say, but it really wasn’t the place. It’s a great loss to the community. He did a lot of good things for people.”
Dozens of friends and family members have posted condolences and memories on Furtado’s Facebook page, which says that he’s from Tiverton, Rhode Island. He has operated D.M. Furtado and Daughter, a roofing and construction company, since 1997.
Sharri MacDonald, a former town councilor and an owner of MacDonald’s garage and convenience store, recalled some of the many times Furtado helped people in the community. A homebound man who needed a wheelchair ramp. A woman with a leaky roof who couldn’t afford to hire a contractor.
“I called my good friend Dana Furtado and he once again came to the rescue and went over and fixed the leak without taking a dime,” MacDonald wrote in a lengthy post on Furtado’s Facebook page. “This post does not even do justice to his legacy. Just know he loved hard and with all he had in him and he was a good man and an even better friend.”
MacDonald and Furtado were among six councilors who were removed from office in June 2013, in a recall election culminating seven months of discord in Old Orchard Beach politics that was sparked by a vote to fire a former town manager.
Sheila Lauzon remembered when Furtado plowed her driveway and shoveled her porch twice during a massive snowstorm when she was away.
“So that it was all clear for us when we came back 10 days later. So you!” Lauson wrote on his Facebook page. “We are in shock! You were a big part of OOB. We will never forget your smile and your laugh and how you made everyone feel special!”
Posts on a Facebook page for Amber Morrow were not public.
Furtado’s 17-year-old daughter, Kaley Alahna, posted a fundraising request Wednesday afternoon on the GoFundMe website, hoping to raise $5,000 for her father’s funeral expenses. The post notes that she has a 13-year-old brother, Keegan.
“We are trying to raise as much as we can to pay for his funeral expenses and what comes next,” she wrote.
On Facebook, she wrote, “With a blink of an eye, my dad is gone. He always harassed me, made fun of me, made me laugh and smile, sang to me, and most of all never gave up on me. My father was a handsome man, he was the most sweetest guy you’ll ever meet. Was so caring and giving. He was my hero. He was my best friend. He was my rock.”
Later she wrote, “Rest In Peace Daddy. I love you so much. I promise I’ll make you proud.”
Sherrie Nadeau, the mother of Furtado’s children, wrote a heartwrenching Facebook post on Wednesday highlighting that it was Kaley’s birthday.
“Our beautiful baby girl is 17 today,” Nadeau wrote. “I wish you were here. We’ve always been a team, family and a united front for both of them. This day will not be easy for her, or any of us. I’m going to try to make today as perfect as I can for her, and continue to do the best I can for both of them. This is so hard. I never thought you wouldn’t be here … Dana, I promise you I will do my best to get them through this. If I could take every last ounce of their pain away, you know I would. You are an amazing Dad who they know loved them with all your heart, they know you would move mountains for them if you could. We love you, Dana. Please continue to watch over and protect our babies. They still need you.”
Furtado’s last posts on Facebook included an inspirational quote – “Don’t start your day with the broken pieces of yesterday. Every morning we wake up is the first day of the rest of our life.” – and a link to a video, “Whiskey Lullaby,” by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss.
“Great tune!” he wrote.
Furtado also posted some advice to protesters on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.
“Listen folks, Mr. Trump is in fact our new president,” he wrote. “I’m sorry your candidate lost, but for the country’s sake STOP this destructive behavior! Stop believing the rumors and speculation that others are saying. It’s a shame that these protesters are committing acts like this because he hasn’t done a dam (sic) thing. Let’s come together and see how in fact he does as president.”
Friends and relatives may call at Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home, 365 Main St., Saco, on Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. A Catholic Mass will be celebrated Tuesday at St. Margaret Church in Old Orchard Beach at 10 a.m., with burial at a later date.
Kelley Bouchard can be contacted at:
kbouchard@pressherald.com
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