THE LOOKOUT | Alhandra mourns the death of the founder of JFF metalworking

Joaquim Jorge Ferreira, a man who never turned his back on work and who everyone could count on, founder of metalworking company JFF Lda in A-de-Freire, Alhandra, died on March 19th, aged 70, victim of a prolonged illness. The businessman was an esteemed person in the land, both in Cotovios, where he lived, and in Alhandra and Alverca. The funeral took place on the morning of March 21st at the Parish Church of São João dos Montes, in the Union of Parishes of Alhandra, São João dos Montes and Calhandriz.
He has two sons who are continuing their father’s work and honoring his legacy. In October 2012, MIRANTE conducted an interview with Joaquim Jorge Ferreira, who recalled his life and professional career. He started working at age 13 to help his family and always put the customer first. He said that he left home several times during the night to make a piece that a client needed urgently.
He was born in the neighboring municipality of Arruda dos Vinhos and started working in a bicycle workshop in Vila Franca de Xira. At the age of 16 he applied for a place at the General Aeronautical Material Workshops of Alverca (OGMA) and managed to get in. It was there that he learned the trade that would later guarantee his livelihood. “I learned to be a turner. We worked with metal, iron, bronze and aluminum pieces. Many times they would give us a drawing and we would make that piece. I was still at OGMA for 25 years”, he recalled. In 1991 he took the risk of setting up a business on his own and the company flourished. When he spoke to O MIRANTE, the businessman assured that as long as his eyes could handle it and his hands didn’t waver, he would continue working in the profession he loved and where, by many, he was recognized.