Shawn Andre Cordwell of New Bedford and Oak Bluffs died unexpectedly on April 18 at his Vineyard residence. He was 53.

Born in Boston, he was the son of R. Carleen Cordwell of New Bedford and Oak Bluffs and Raymond Silva of Seekonk. He graduated from West Roxbury High School and studied culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University. He later earned a Merchant Marine credential and was employed as an able-bodied seaman for the Steamship Authority for seven years. He was recently hired by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation as a foreman and was ecstatic about this new phase of his life.

Shawn had a larger-than-life personality. He made everyone feel special and comfortable, and brightened every room he entered with his good humor and charm. He was kind, affectionate, well-mannered and a gentleman. He loved people and embraced everyone, regardless of who they were, with no regard to individual differences. He was a huggable teddy bear who wouldn’t hurt a fly, and was scared of everything. He was witty and creative, and gave funny nicknames on the spot.

His family called him Big Sexy and he relished the name. When he changed his lifestyle and started eating healthy, took up hiking and walked from the Inkwell to the Big Bridge, they called him Medium Sexy and Sexy Light.

He was a perfectionist and a fashionista who loved clothes and dressing up in carefully coordinated outfits. It didn’t matter if it was his Steamship Authority neon green vest, Shawn found matching neon socks, sneakers and sunglasses to match.

He loved to cook and was a talented chef, with anything prepared on the charcoal barbeque grill as his speciality. He loved to feed people and was everyone’s favorite bartender.

He loved to party and dance the night away to old school rhythm and blues, Mary J. Blige, Marvin Gaye and Kool & the Gang. He was also a movie buff.

Shawn loved his mother Carleen and they had a very special, unbreakable bond. He was loyal, reliable and consistently faithful to what he called his mother’s “99 missions.” He would often be told, “Shawn do this, do that, and go help so-and-so do the other.” Shawn never said no to his mom and always responded to her requests for fear of what would happen should he fail a mission. He also loved hanging out with his family, friends and his mother’s gang of friends whom he adopted as aunties.

He is survived by his parents; his godparents Liz and Feliciano (Butch) Tavares; his children Jenna Barboza, Jeremy Terrell and Shawn A. Cordwell, Jr.; his grandchildren Taylor Terrell and Emery Terrell of Crown Point, Ind.; his brothers Rajeen Ali, Daniel Silva and the late Raymond Silva, Jr.; his sisters Shakirah Silva and Rayna Silva; his maternal aunts Leslie Ferreira, Elaine Almeida and Terry Marks; niece Jahyda Cardona; nephews Jonathan White and Cade Cordwell; many cousins; and several extended aunties; and countless friends.

Visiting hours will be held at Aubertine-Lopes Funeral Home at 129 Allen street in New Bedford from 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 28. A service will take place at 3:45 p.m. A celebration of life will be held at the Portuguese-American Club at 137 Vineyard avenue in Oak Bluffs from 3 to 5 pm. on Friday, April 29.

Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Please put Shawn Cordwell on the memo line and mail to Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

For online guestbook, please visit www.aubertinelopes.com.