PORTSMOUTH — During Judge Joseph C. Lopes’s first year serving the Town of Portsmouth, the summer blockbuster “Jaws” was scaring the bejesus out of everyone, President Gerald Ford survived two assassination attempts, the Vietnam War ended, “Saturday Night Live” debuted on TV, and the first commercially successful home video recording unit (Betamax) was in stores.

Fifty years later, he’s still working for the town. But on Monday, June 30, he’s finally hanging up his robe as probate judge.

Probate judges oversee the legal processes related to estates of individuals who are deceased or, in some cases, incapacitated. They ensure the proper administration of wills, distribution of assets, and handle guardianship or conservatorship matters. Probate judges also resolve disputes related to wills or estates. 

The Town Council on Monday showed its appreciation to Lopes by honoring him with a proclamation in recognition of his retirement, after serving the town since Jan. 14, 1975.

“Sure you don’t want to do another 10,” joked Council President Keith Hamilton, who read the proclamation and presented Lopes with a town tile.

“Nah,” replied the judge.

Lopes was also presented with proclamations from the R.I. Senate and House, by Sen. Linda Ujifusa, Rep. Terri Cortvriend, and Rep. Michelle McGaw.

After he was given a standing ovation from everyone inside the council chambers, Lopes shared some brief remarks in which he credited other town staff members for their work over the past half-century.

“My job as probate job was made very easy by the people that supported me in the clerk’s office,” he said. “Everybody has always been so supportive and everything was done for me. I’d come and everything would be ready. We’d do our session, and I’d be gone. I think in 50 years, I don’t think I ever missed a session that I am aware of.”

Only one time, Lopes recalled, was there a session that was so contentious he had to summon outside help.

“As far as the conduct of the sessions, I think I only had to call the police department once. There were two brothers who would not do anything they were told to do. We called the police department, they had a gentleman stand in the back in uniform, and we got our business done,” he said.