It is with much regret that I read about the demise of Dr. Stella de Silva, the famous Paediatrician. I got to know her in 1963 when my eldest son was born prematurely at St. Michael’s Nursing Home, Colpetty. No one thought he would live, being only 2lbs 14ozs at birth.
As soon as he was born, Dr. Cabraal the resident physician got down Dr. de Silva to see the baby. After seeing the baby when she came to my bedside, I asked, “Doctor, what do you think of the baby?” She saw me reciting the “Holy Rosary”. She said, "Pray to your God, it depends on your luck. I will do my best.” These were her very words and they still echo in my ears.
The baby was kept in an incubator for 45 days and every morning and evening Dr. Stella never failed to visit him. She tended to him with motherly care and special love. Though the baby was born on March 28, we were able to bring him safely home only on May 12.
We would see Dr. Stella on and off and she was very proud of the baby. I am just one individual, how many more lives of premature babies would she have saved? What happiness she would have brought to those parents who saw their children grow to become valuable and useful citizens of Sri Lanka?
I join those parents and children to express this tribute.
On the day we brought the baby home, Dr. Stella waived off her full fee and said it was medical etiquette as my late husband was attached to the Dental Institute, Colombo the same period that Dr. Stella was Senior Consultant Paediatrician of Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital, Borella.
Though she is no more these memories of her will linger on for generations to come.
Assunta Mendis
Distinguished daughter of Southlands healed generations of children
We last saw her four years ago, when she invited a few Southlanders to celebrate her 90th birthday at her residence. She has departed from this world, but memories of her will live on in the minds of all senior Southlanders who are now in the evening of their lives. As schoolchildren, we remember her visiting our alma mater on several occasions.
She joined Southlands as a little girl and left to make her dream of becoming a doctor a reality. In the book, ‘Golden Heart of Southlands – Miss Edith Ridge’, she wrote: “My choice was medicine, an unheard of career for women at that time, certainly for Southlands. I was ill-equipped for medical studies, with no knowledge of physics, chemistry or biology. Yet Miss Ridge and Miss Freethy encouraged me. I entered university at the age of 17 years and qualified as a doctor. … Miss Ridge, you have followed my career closely. You were delighted when I became a Professor of Paediatrics, but you were more proud when you heard of my clinical success. You taught me humility and the joy of healing.”
Through determination and courage she reached the top of the ladder in her career. She served society for more than half a century. She treated the many children and grandchildren of her friends. As Southlanders, we were happy and proud to record her academic excellence and achievements, which brought fame to our alma mater.
Writing in the Southlands Centenary Magazine in 1985, she said: “The important lesson taught at Southlands was to live and work together as responsible and useful members of society, irrespective of race, caste and religion.
“When the Great Scorer comes
To write against your name
He writes not how you won or lost
But how you played the game.”
Her name is written indelibly in the medical history of Sri Lanka as a pioneer lady Paediatrician. Senior Southlanders were very happy when the state awarded her the Vidya Jothi title in 1994 in recognition of her services to the country.
May she attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.
Shantha Manawadu Abeysekera
A spiritual guide to thousands at St. Benedict’s, De Mazenod and St. Sebastian’s
Brother Michael Robert FSC
Some say we are born by chance. Others believe our birth is determined by previous merits or by God’s design. Whatever the truth may be, we are certain that Brother Michael was a gift to his family, to the De La Salle Brothers and to the hundreds of students of St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena, De Mazenod, Kandana, and St. Sebastian’s, Moratuwa. He imparted knowledge, discipline and kindness.
Bishop Maxwell Silva concelebrated the thanksgiving Mass at Mutwal and Brother Michael’s mortal remains were interred in the historic Madampitiya cemetery on March 5.
Brother Michael will be sadly missed by past pupils and boarders who would regularly meet him to recall their school days, celebrate the past and thank him for his guidance. His family members will miss his presence during trips to the national parks, where he enjoyed wildlife and nature.
The Brothers will miss his humour, friendship, writings and spiritual interaction. He also left behind a legacy of eight books, including a three-volume history of the De La Salle Brothers in Ceylon. These books were all written in his retirement.
Brother Michael was born Joseph Pinto on February 23, 1936, in Kandy, to Bastian Santiago Pinto and Maggeline Fernando. He was the great-grandson of Kande Vedamahattaya, who settled in Chilaw a few decades after the British took over Kandy. He had his early education in Kandy and Chilaw. He topped the Junior School Certificate exam conducted by the De La Salle Brothers in their 11 schools. He joined the Brothers and received the Holy Habit in Penang, Malaysia, in 1952 and made Perpetual vows at Mutwal in 1962.
He followed advanced religious studies in India and Rome. From 1957-1959 he studied at the Agricultural Farm School at Gannoruwa. After his graduation, he was to be sent to the Diyagala Boys’ Town, Ragama, to develop an agricultural programme, but his services were needed elsewhere, and he obediently accepted the directives of his superiors.
Brother Michael was a teacher, supervisor, warden, vice-principal and director at St. Benedict’s, De Mazenod and St. Sebastian’s. He also trained aspirants joining the Brothers in Sri Lanka and India.
Brother Michael held truth and justice in the highest regard. He instilled truth and honesty in his students. He had a knack for sniffing out the trouble-makers who attempted to disrupt school during those years of unrest in the country.
In the line of duty, he was fair to all and especially strict with the children of relatives. He was open-minded and respected alternative views, beliefs and wishes. Disciplinarian though he was, his students referred to him as “dear friend”, “Brother” and “Father”.
He was a spiritual man, which is demonstrated in his books “75 Reflections”, written when he was 75, and “Praying the Rule for the Brothers.”
When he retired, he went to St Mary’s College, Chilaw, so he could be close to his mother. He also revived the hostel and from his savings established a fund for Brothers who were elderly and sick. After his mother died, he said he had achieved all his objectives in Chilaw and returned to De Mazenod, Kandana, where he had spent most of his life.
Brother Michael was indeed a great man, a gift to his family, the Brothers and the students. May he enjoy his eternal reward in Heaven.
Dr. Leonard Pinto
(Youngest brother)
Alma mater and friends have lost a rare gem of a Thomian
Sarath Fernando
Despite the tsunami warning and the rush that prevailed on the afternoon of April 11, large numbers gathered at Kanatte to pay their last respects to genial Sarath Fernando, CEO of Bogawantalawa Plantations. He received full Thomian honours at his funeral, as a mark of respect to a true Thomian.
Sarath had his early education at S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia. He was a popular and staunch Thomian to the very end and assisted the school in numerous ways without seeking publicity.
A member of the Old Boys’ Association, he was most supportive at school matches and events. He was a lavish entertainer and enjoyed a good sing-song session. He gladly helped his friends whenever he could. His university and MBA student support was exemplary. He was a devoted husband and father.
After leaving school, he qualified overseas and returned to Sri Lanka to become a leading financial accountant. His contribution to the corporate field, including Ceramics and Bogawantalawa Plantations, was outstanding.
Sarath fought his cancer bravely and even recovered partially to get back to work. He had an extraordinary will to work. At the relatively young age of 58 years, Sarath said farewell to the world in which he excelled.
We pray that his wife Pushpa and only child Sinithi will have the strength to bear this great loss.
Sarath’s friends have lost a rare gem of a Thomian. Many of his friends did their utmost, through religious offerings and meritorious acts, to save dear Sarath, who will remain in our hearts and minds forever.
Bogawantalawa Plantation owners, Thomians Dr. Sarath Abeykoon, Raj Renganathan, Dhammika Jayasuriya and others, too many to name here, did much for Sarath in his hour of need.
We are grateful to you, Sarath, for being a true friend. We will miss you.
May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.
Esto Perpetua !
R. P. M. Hettiarachchi
Thank you, dear Aunt, for the
wonderful childhood you gave us
Niaza Sally
It is with great grief in my heart that I pay this tribute to you. The three of us looked on as you gradually faded away. Niaz and I silently prayed for you, and Fahim clasped your hand. Tears dimmed my eyes as I remembered Aunty Zem as well. She must have wanted us to comfort her in her illness and give her solace in her final moments, but it was not to be. She was gone by the time we reached her.
Zem’s death upset you badly, and your health began to deteriorate. Yet you carried on bravely till you collapsed. You were attending to your personal needs, solving crossword puzzles, watching the news on TV, especially cricket, and cheering the Sri Lankan team when they won and sympathising with them when they lost.
Your interests were many and varied. You were a keen gardener and almost all the trees and flowering plants in the garden were grown and cared for by you. I have never seen so many fallen leaves in the garden as on the day of your last journey. Perhaps the trees were weeping for a friend they would never see again.
An excellent cook, you would turn out the tastiest of dishes. You would read through a recipe and know whether it would turn out well. Many were the recipients of your jams and jellies, your exotic pickles and chutneys.
Your skill as a teacher was well-known. The pupils who visited you in hospital and also paid their last respects were sad that you would no longer be there to help them. You were the kind of teacher that Abraham Lincoln desired for his son: “Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob ... and to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right.”
This is what you taught us and the many children who came to you. Mother died when we were young, but you took on the responsibility of looking after us and educating us.
You taught us not only the wonder of books, but also to appreciate the gifts of nature: the stick insect on the withered branches of the lemon tree; the kingfisher that would swoop from the mango tree down into the tank to catch the golden carp; the ladybirds and golden beetles on the “keera” plants. These were sights you made us enjoy.
What a wonderful childhood you gave us! You showered us with love, read us bedtime stories and bought us books, toys and what-not.
As we sprinkled you with rose-water and covered you with earth, we thanked Allah for your sojourn on this earth and for moulding our lives. Wherever I go, I will take with me memories of your good life – harming no one and helping anyone in need.
My dearest Aunt, may you and Aunty Zem be rewarded with eternal peace in the glory of Jennathul Firdaus.
Rihaan Shakoor
Too young to leave a family with three young children
Oriana Fredericks
The vast gathering at the Church of SS Mary & John in Nugegoda was testimony to the essence of the life of Oriana Fredericks.
Oriana was 44 years old when she was called to her Maker. She was doing much for her family, her friends, and society at large, but she knew she had more “promises to keep”. Even in the midst of life we are surrounded by death.
It was far too early for Oriana to go and when she knew she had to, she adhered to the Biblical advice [Isaiah 38:1] wherein she was asked to: “Get thine house in order: for thou shalt die.”
Poets have glorified death and some have simplified it, saying, “Death is nothing at all, I have only slipped away into the next room”. But tell that to husband Horace and the three small children and they will, with one voice, plead, “Death, where is thy victory?”
When an uncle told Oriana’s seven-year-old daughter that he would bring her chocolates, she waved the offer aside, saying, “I don’t want you to bring me anything. Bring my Mama back to me.”
With all my power to believe, I know that Oriana has not forsaken her loved ones and that she is with them in spirit and love, to cherish and guide them on life’s tumultuous path.
Sharm de Alwis |
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