It s been a couple of days since the news broke of the passing of Antone Fortes. Most people who live in New Bedford and even the surrounding towns knew him as Tonka Toi, and he was an absolute legend in the Cape Verdean community.
Sadly, Toi was fighting COVID-19 and unfortunately lost the fight.
We are only five or so weeks into 2021 and there s already been great sadness within the New Bedford community alone. Tonka Toi was more than just a gymnastics and acrobatics teacher; he was a father, a friend and an absolute visionary when it came to the mental health and well being of our community s children.