Suresh Brito

Suresh Brito, age 77, of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 8, 2022.

Suresh was the sixth of Joseph and Mabel (Saldanha) Brito’s ten children, born and raised in Mangalore, India. His family was in the roof tiling manufacturing business and, with their company located along the Netravati River, water was an integral part of Suresh’s childhood. It was his place to swim and fish. One could say the water was literally his childhood toy.

Following graduation from high school, Suresh pursued further education at Mysore University in India and graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, Chemistry and Math. After the completion of college, he moved into a managing role in the family business – Joe Tile Works.

Suresh met the love of his life, Astrid Mathias for the first time in December of 1972. The encounter took place at the wedding of his neighbor to Astrid’s cousin. Due to cultural customs in India, they never even spoke to one another at that wedding but, to Suresh, it was a very significant encounter, for on that day, Suresh knew Astrid was the girl he wanted to marry. For Astrid, the feeling was not mutual. Over the ensuing months and years, Suresh persisted in his quest for Astrid’s love. They talked on the telephone from time to time and continued to “run into each other” at weddings as well as Christmas and New Year’s dances. It’s important to understand that back then, courtship customs in India were very different than in America so, while there were occasional encounters, they were typically somewhat brief and sporadic. In India, marriages were usually arranged and while Suresh’s parents did their best to arrange for an opportunity for him to propose, Astrid and her family avoided there attempts as she was too young. One day while at the beach, Suresh got his chance. He asked for Astrid’s hand in marriage but, feeling like she hardly knew him, she said she had to ask her parents. Being eternally optimistic, her answer did not deter Suresh from telling his parents that Astrid said YES! The next attempt was made by Suresh’s mother Mabel and his best friend Lancy. They visited Astrid’s parents to arrange the marriage. Again, Astrid rejected the proposal because she was planning to move to the Middle East to be closer to her brother. Upon this latest rejection Lancy got together with Astrid and was actually able to convince her to marry Suresh. She said yes and the word spread as quick as a grassfire that Suresh and Astrid were going to marry, but that same night she again began having second thoughts. Lancy and Astrid's mother took Astrid and Suresh to the beach so that they could spend some quality time together where their love blossomed. They wed on Saturday, May 15, 1976 and their vows were made at the Milagres R.C. Church in Mangalore, India. It was a three day celebration with 500 guests at the ceremony in the church and 300 at the reception. After their honeymoon at Astrid’s family’s coffee plantation, Suresh and Astrid began married life in their hometown of Mangalore. Throughout the years, their love grew stronger and stronger and this coming May 15 they would have celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary.

Desiring a better life for their yet to be born children, Suresh and Astrid made the decision of a lifetime when on February 26, 1980, they moved to the United States. With some of Suresh’s siblings having already made the move, they initially stayed with Suresh’s sister Vim in Wayne. Astrid got a job to support her and Suresh while he attended NYU to pursue a degree in programming. He also studied nuclear medicine through a program at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson. While in school he and Astrid were able to stay in housing owned by the hospital. Suresh went on to become supervisor of nuclear medicine and eventually department chief at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson. During the span of his career he also worked at Beth Israel Hospital in New York City before wrapping up a rewarding career at Saint Mary’s General Hospital.  He entered into full retirement in 2016 at age 71.

Soon after coming to America, Suresh and Astrid were blessed with two beautiful children – first their daughter Shebonie followed by their son Daryl. In 1985 they moved to Wayne and in 1993 they moved into their present forever home nearby. Suresh was by nature a homebody. During the warmer months you could be sure to find him in his back yard working in his huge 40 foot by 40 foot vegetable garden. He grew so many delicious vegetables that the family literally never had to purchase produce from the store…..never! In fact, his crops were so bountiful that he froze a lot of what he grew and the family enjoyed fresh food throughout the winters. Even after doing that, there was still plenty left to share with neighbors and friends. Harkening back to his childhood where he regularly fished along the river by his family’s business, Suresh never lost his love for fishing. It remained a favorite pastime throughout his life so trips were regularly made down the Jersey shore to Manasquan and Point Pleasant and, when visiting his son Daryl in Tampa, Florida, they’d always go fishing there too. Suresh also found great enjoyment in being a self-taught stock trader. He was always reading about the subject and was always looking to deal.

Above all else, nothing was as important to Suresh as his faith and his family. A parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary R. C. Church in Wayne since 1985, Suresh’s faith was foundational to everything that he thought about and did. Most recently, he regularly tuned into the Sunday, 9:00 AM mass via livestream. His love and adoration for his wife Astrid was eternal, and he always wanted the best for his children. He loved quality time with his grandchildren Victoria and Justin and, even as recently as this past Sunday, May 8, Suresh beamed with pride as he watched Victoria partake in her first communion. Being someone who was happiest when home with the ones he loved, it was hard to get Suresh to go out, but ironically, once you got him out, he was the most outgoing, charming, and sociable individual in the room!

Suresh was a spitfire! He told it as he saw it, was tenacious about getting his way and always seemed to want to have the last word. He was a principled man who worked hard, took his faith in God seriously, and did his best to be a great provider. With his ear-to-ear smile and charming personality, he was dearly loved by all who had the honor of knowing him.  

Suresh was the beloved husband of Astrid (nee Mathias), blessed in marriage for almost 46 years. He was the very loving father of Shebonie and husband Peter Gabriele of Montville and Daryl Brito of Tampa, Florida; adoring grandfather of Victoria and Justin Gabriele; dearest brother of: Thelma, Phylis, the late Felix, the late Archie, Vimala, the late Shanthi, Vasanthi, Ashok, and the late Marina; and dear uncle of numerous nieces and nephews.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Suresh’s name are asked to consider:

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Memorial Processing

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105-9959