Balduino Diogo Miranda, 71, of Vero Beach, FL, formerly of Fall River, passed away on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, Vero Beach, Florida. Born in Bretanha, St. Michael, Azores, a son of the late Joseph Cordeiro Miranda, Jr. and the late Matilde (Diogo) Miranda, he moved to Fall River as a young child with his family in 1956 – residing in Florida for the past 37 years.

With a Bachelor of Science degree from UMass Amherst in 1981, majoring in Plant and Soil Sciences, Balduino went on to earn a Master of Science (in 1984) and a Ph.D. (in 1987) in Plant Breeding and Plant Genetics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He worked for many years as a program manager in vegetable research programs, first at Syngenta Seeds, Inc of Naples, FL, and Gilroy, CA, then at Sakata Seed America of Ft. Myers, FL.

In the early 2000s, Balduino worked as an Urban Horticulture Extension Agent with Collier County Cooperative of Naples and as a Scientist in Ornamental Horticulture with the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center of Bradenton, both associated with the University of Florida. It was during this time that he co-authored several publications in Horticultural Science – having developed new strains of the white caladium (strap-leaved, fancy-leaved, and lance-leaved). Balduino was a member of the Florida Association of Horticultural Therapy and the American Society of Horticultural Science.

In 2007, Balduino earned a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Florida Gulf Coast University and worked for number of years at several skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies in the Naples area. He was a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Balduino enjoyed reading, especially educational textbooks. He also loved music and playing his guitar. A very religiously person, devout in his faith, Balduino enjoyed yearly Catholic retreats.

He is survived by: two children, Joseph D. Miranda (wife Ilana) of Mahwah, New Jersey, and Hannah L. Kearns (husband Peter) of Danvers, MA; a sister, Donaria "Donna" Miranda of Fall River; four grandchildren, Elora Mattie Miranda, Isaac Chay Miranda, Gigi Love Kearns, and Sienna Love Kearns; his former wife, Ronna (Feintzeig) Miranda; several nieces and nephews; and many cousins. He was also the brother of the late Leonardo C. Miranda.

Following his cremation in Florida, His Memorial Funeral Mass was celebrated on Friday, July 19th, in Espirito Santo Church (the parish that his great grandparents co-founded) followed by his committal and burial of his cremains at St. Patrick Cemetery, both in Fall River.

Family members are always grateful for relatives and friends wishing to make in-person expressions of kindness and support. If you were unable to do so, because of health concerns or any other reason, all are urged to express their sympathy online or by mail. To ensure that said condolences and/or sympathy cards reach the family, please always make sure that submissions online are made directly through the funeral home's website (www.silvafaria.com) and not through a third party. Thank you!