Herminio D. Carvalho, 90, of Clinton Corners, died Saturday, August 7, 2021 surrounded by his loving daughter, Maria Carvalho Lehner, his granddaughters, Stephanie and Jacqueline Carvalho Lehner, and cousin, Zalita Allard. Born in Mangualde, Portugal on January 4, 1931, he was the son of Alberto Ferreira de Carvalho and Barbara Rodrigues. Herminio immigrated to the U.S.A. in 1950. He attended Rhodes Preparatory School and Iona College where he earned his bachelor's degree. He also worked for his uncles at Larchmont Nursery while he was a student. On April 24, 1955 at St. Mary's Church in Mt. Vernon, Herminio married Lenore Leca who predeceased him in 2008. Herminio taught Portuguese at the Berlitz School of Languages and was featured in Time Magazine in the early 1960s for his innovation in creating and developing the total immersion program for learning languages. Herminio went on to work for Mary Martin and Richard Halliday for several years. Herminio worked at Children's Village, a therapeutic residential environment for youths with special needs, for 17 years. He was the Director of Special Services and worked in crisis intervention. In 1975, Herminio built a greenhouse to indulge his love of growing plants, which he acquired from his uncles. In 1976, he became a founding farmer of the NYC Union Square Greenmarket. In 1981, Herminio left Children's Village to work full-time in his nursery business, Carvalho Greenhouses, which later became Oak Grove Farms, LLC in 1998. Herminio was a partner in Oak Grove Farms, LLC with his wife, Lenore, and his son, Anthony, until 2010. Herminio traveled to Medjugorje of the former Yugoslavia, where apparitions of the Virgin Mary were taking place. He loved being a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Men's Group whose members were exceptionally loving and supportive of him. He treasured spending time with his granddaughters who deeply admired him and he was always actively involved in their lives. Herminio was the devoted husband to his late wife, Lenore, and loving father of Barbara Carvalho of North Salem, Maria Carvalho Lehner of Poughkeepsie and son-in-law Eric Lehner of Fishkill, and Tony Carvalho and his wife Andrea of Enumclaw, WA. He was the beloved grandfather of Stephanie and Jacqueline Carvalho Lehner who reside with their mother in Poughkeepsie, and adored brother of Maria Alice Rodrigues Ferreira of Mangualde, Portugal. He is also survived by a dear niece, nephew, and many cousins. Herminio was predeceased by his brother Manuel.
Visitation will be Friday 5-8 pm at Allen Funeral Home, 3270 Franklin Ave., Millbrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday 10 am at St. Joseph's Church, Millbrook. Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made in Herminio's memory to The Lunch Box, c/o Dutchess Outreach, 29 N. Hamilton St.; Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or the East Clinton Fire Department, 9 Firehouse Lane; Clinton Corners, NY 12514.