- Date Of Birth: July 18, 1933
- Date Of Death: June 18, 2020
- State: Rhode Island
Sarah Toste Amaral, 86, of Bristol passed away on June 18, 2020 at Rhode Island Hospital. Sarah was born and lived her entire life in Bristol, a town she loved and served with passion.
The youngest child of Joseph Fraga Toste and Virginia (Silvia) Toste, Sarah prided herself in being the daughter of a farmer. Raised working on her family farm, she grew up with an appreciation for hard work, the land and family. After graduating from Colt Memorial High School in 1952, Sarah stayed on at the farm to care for both of her parents until their passing. She then devoted her time to raising her children while working as a housekeeper. During this time Sarah became very interested in the politics of Bristol and voiced her opinions in numerous “Letters to The Editor” that ran in the Bristol Phoenix. As a regular attendee of the Bristol Town Council meetings, her passions included stopping the proposed Interstate 895 or anything she thought would be a detriment to the town she loved.
In 1978, when there wasn’t anyone to run as a Republican for the position of Town Administrator, Sarah took on the challenge and to the surprise of many, she won. She was the first woman elected to run a municipality in the state of Rhode Island serving two terms as Bristol’s Town Administrator. Her accomplishments during her tenure included having toxic waste illegally buried in the town landfill removed, supporting a sewer bond in the millions and following through with the State mandated revaluation of the town. Of all of her achievements she took most pride in stopping the highway which would have destroyed the town she loved.
Upon leaving the Town Administrators office, Sarah continued her career in public service with a position at the Attorney General’s Office as a consumer advocate and then in the Department of Transportation for Parks and Rides.
Sarah was the widow of Manuel G. Amaral and is survived by her children Virginia Amaral of Warren RI, Manuel G. Amaral III and his wife Lisa (Lovejoy) Amaral of Peoria AZ and her grandson Samuel T. Amaral and his wife Samantha Myers Amaral of Forest IA. She was the sister of Virginia (Toste) Chauvin of East Providence RI and the late Theodore August, Helen (Toste) August, Maria Guiomar (Toste) Dias, Lucinda (Toste) Sousa, Joseph F. Toste Jr, John F. Toste and George F. Toste. Sarah spent the last twenty seven years with her companion John L. Ferreira who recently preceded her in death. She is also survived by John’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
