Brian N. Ponte, 44, Was Cook, Veteran of Army

Brian Normand Ponte of San Antonio, Tex., died Friday, Feb. 20, in Hospice of San Antonio. He was 44.

Brian was born in New Bedford on April 5, 1959, the son of Normand and the late Dolores (Perry) Ponte.

Brian moved to the Island with his parents to Edgartown. One year later was living in Oak Bluffs and going to Oak Bluffs Elementary School and later attending the high school.

He served in the U.S. Army in peacetime and was stationed at Ft. Bragg.

Brian was a cook and always traveled to warmer climates throughout the United States, working for restaurants as he moved.

He is survived by his parents, Normand Ponte and Ruth Ann Ponte, both of Oak Bluffs; four sisters, Yvonne Ponte and Pamela Oliver and her husband, Wade, all of Oak Bluffs, Donna Ponte of New Bedford and Bernadette Ponte of Vineyard Haven; two brothers, Steven Ponte of New Bedford and Anthony Ponte of Loves Park, Ill. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

His uncle, Gilbert M. Ponte, predeceased him.

His funeral mass will be celebrated in Sacred Heart Star of the Sea Church, Oak Bluffs on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004 at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Oak Bluffs. Visiting hours in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs on Wednesday evening, Feb. 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1115 W. Chestnut street, Brockton, MA 02301 or to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen street, Framingham, MA 01701. Arrangements are by the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs.