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THESE ARE tough times for the Vanishing Tribe of East Africa (Goans, now
in their 70s, 80s, and 90+). With the passing of each one us, the Grim Reaper
appears to march ever closer. Nonetheless, we remain true to our faith and our
trust in the Maker is renewed with each prayer. However, with the passing of
the icons of the community, we feel the loss on any even greater personal
basis. It is our loss as much as it is for the family and extended family.
The loss of Crescent Fernandes causes such grief and a sense of loss
that is often reserved for the greatest amongst us, for royalty and greatest
brains and achievers in the world. Crescent was no royalty, no earth-shattering
achiever but he was nonetheless our own, personal hero. He was always larger
than life (and I don’t mean his size). He was one of us, the one we most
admired.
The phrase “the world is poorer for his passing” was never truer than
with Crescent's departure from this earth. He will always be remembered for the
great work he did in supporting the community both in the UK and in Kenya.
He was always there when you needed help. This was especially of anyone
in sports. He made sure they were never wanting.
He was perhaps one of the last few alive who went to the Catholic
Parochial School in Nairobi. He never ever forgot it for a moment. He was a
great supporter of St Teresa’s Eastleigh. He grew up with a large, wonderful
family not too far away from the church and schools. His folks were amongst the
earliest migrants to this quarter which grew into a Little Goa.
He was our hockey player. He was not an international but, in our eyes,
he was even though he never played for Kenya. He was the organiser and brought
players together (the Caltex team, for example). He was a dedicated club member
both at the Nairobi Goan Institute and the Railway Goan Institute. He enjoyed a
game of cards (when he was not playing sports).
He was an insurance agent and a financial adviser, and we were happy to
put our faith in him and even happier to collect the money when the insurance
or investment matured. I know of many, many people who remain indebted to
Crescent for encouraging them to invest in an insurance policy which came in
handy especially when migrating to the UK, US and Canada when forced to leave
Kenya.
But perhaps more than anything else, he was blessed with a great memory
and he was the unofficial keeper of much of the Goan history, especially Kenyan
Goan history. Any time my memory made me struggle, I could always turn to
Crescent especially on my Facebook page and while writing my various books.
What I could not recall, names, places, events, Crescent would, as a matter of
course.
We are all shattered, a little broken, somewhat wounded, even a little
betrayed by the inevitable and as we apply the balm of prayer to soothe our
aching hearts and our pained hearts, let us take comfort that he is in a better
place. He booked that place the day he was born. A good man to the last and we
shall all weep for him and missing more with every drop.
His departure leaves a huge gap in the memory of Kenya stakes. Now it is
left to a few like Tony Reg D’Souza, Felix Nazareth, John Noronha, Oscar
D’Souza, Braz Menezes, Mervyn Maciel, Amand Rodrigues and a few others who may
have dropped off my brain’s memory card.
condolences to Thelma, the children, the extended family and all who
mourn his passing.
Eunice O’Mahony: was a
class act, a wonderful listener, and the epitome of patience. He is going to
leave a gaping hole in the lives of everyone who had the good fortune to have
him in their lives. I'm grief-stricken for Thelma and the kids.
Remembered most fondly ... most especially his love
for Community.
Heartfelt condolences to All the family.
May his soul Rest In Peace.
May his soul Rest In Peace.
May his soul rest in peace, Amen.
May his Soul Rest In Peace! A treasure trove of
Goan history is lost
A bright light in the Community has just been
extinguished. Besides being a close mate worked with him on many committees
where his dedication and love for Community were paramount. Condolences to
Thelma and the whole family. God Bless.
Our sincere condolences to the family. May he Rest
In Peace
Our Very Sincere Sympathies to Thelma and all the
family
R.I.P. Dear
CrescentThinking
of you all at this very sad time and sending our love. Sandy & Oscar Antao
May his soul RIP
Very sad news. He will be greatly missed. Our
condolences to Thelma and family. May he Rest In Peace.
May He Rest In Eternal Peace. He was a Gentleman
& A Scholar.../
Sad news. Sincere condolences to Thelma and family.
May his gentle soul rest in peace Sara and
Raymond
Our Very deepest sympathies to you Thelma, Carol,
Douglas and Christopher & spouses. The sudden death of our beloved Crescent
shocked us all. I for one could not believe the news as he sent me the most
beautiful birthday message on my birthday on the 27th of July followed by
two other FB messages and I thought I would reply today but he is no more like
you would say Gone with the wind. You all are in our prayers. RIP dear
Crescent. Johnny & Maura Lobo.
OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHIES THELMA AND FAMILLY. MAY
CRESCENT'S SOUL REST IN PEACE.. I can still picture him when he visited us in
Arusha on a flying visit to visit his cousin in law Dora.
RIP Crescent Sidney n Digna Australia.
My heartfelt sympathies to Thelma and all the
family & may Crescenti 's soul rest in eternal peace. He advised me about
my finances when I was beginning my medical career. Malachy De Souza M.D.
I keep remembering the phrase, title: "The
last of the Mohicans".... I did not know him but I'm sure my parents did.
RIP.
Our very sincere condolences to Thelma and family.
May God keep his loving arms around all of you through this period of deep
grief. May Crescent's beautiful soul rest in eternal peace.
May his soul rest in peace
RIP Crescent. My deepest condolences to Thelma and
your family. I pray they find peace in this time of loss.
Deepest condolences To you Thelma and family.
Crescent will be missed. RIP
I am terribly shocked and saddened to hear that
Crescent is no more.
Crescent and I played hockey as well as soccer for
Old Mutual. He was a good friend, never to be forgotten. My sincere condolences
to Thelma and all the family. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Condolences to Thelma and the family on the passing
of Crescent. May his soul rest in peace.
Thoughts and Prayers go out to dear Crescent. May
his soul RIP. Deepest condolences to Thelma and the family.
Deeply sorry to learn of Crescent’s passing. My
thoughts and prayers are with you, Thelma and the family. May he rest in
eternal peace.
I remember him fondly... a good friend of my dad...
at the Goan Institute when we were just kids... An icon for our club.. a gentle
giant...may he rest in eternal peace and let the perpetual light shine upon
him.
Sincere condolences to Crescent Fernandes' family.
May his soul rest in peace. I don't think I ever met him but his brother Thomas
was a very dear friend but we have lost touch over the years. Our prayers are
with you all.
R.I.P Crescent
You couldn’t have put it better! Indeed ‘ the world
is a poorer place for his passing ‘ - lived by all who knew him! R. I.P.
RIP Crescent
Sincere condolences to Thelma & family, many
happy memories of Kenya days, Rest In Peace dear friend
Our deepest condolences to Thelma and family. Rest
in peace crescent.
May his soul rip and eternal light shine upon him
Our heartfelt condolences to Telma and the rest of
the family
Our heartfelt sympathies to Thelma and the family
on the passing of Crescent. May his soul rest in peace.
Our heartfelt sympathy on the sad loss of a man who
dedicated so much, for the love of our Goan community in Kenya
He always had a kind word & encouraged me when
I played hockey for the GI in the 70s
He will be remembered & missed by all who knew
and loved him R.I.P.
Heartfelt Sympathy to Thelma and all the family
Sincere condolences to the entire family may his
soul rest in eternal peace
Yes so shocked Uncle Crescent is never forgotten.
Our thoughts and prayers to Aunty Thelma and the whole family may his soul rest
eternal peace till we meet again Amen
This is certainly a great loss. He will always be
remembered.
Crescent was a class act, a wonderful listener, and
the epitome of patience. He is going to leave a gaping hole in the lives of
everyone who had the good fortune to have him in their lives. I'm grief-struck
for Thelma and the kids.
Norman and Delfne Da Costa: SKIP: You've done an excellent obituary on a giant
of a man in Kenya from his sporting ties at the administration level and on the
field. There was Crescent selling us his insurance policies when we were still
in our teens and it eventually paid off when we were leaving Kenya. Had close
ties with him on the field when we represented Caltex, a team that was
assembled by the late David Carrasco, without a doubt the best administrator in
Kenya. Crescent ran a close second to David and I should know as we worked
together for the Kenya Goan Sports Association in organizing field hockey's
Gold Cup and Allsopp's Cup. The Allsops Cup was the equivalent of the Gold Cup
that pitted the best soccer clubs in East Africa. Crescent was part of a
dedicated group that included Tom Fernandes and the late John D'Souza. Crescent
also played an active role at the Railway Goan Institute in different
capacities. We will miss a thorough gentleman. Our condolences go out to Thelma
and the family. Norman and Delphine
Crescent was a treasure trove of memories and always made a contribution to the hundreds of posts on my Facebook page. Here is the last one, just a few days ago:
I knew Blaise very well in Nairobi, he played Cricket for
East Africa against Pakistan as a good goodly bowler Table Tennis for Kenya and
RGI In Athletics the High Jump at the GI & RGI annual Sports worked for
National and Grindleys Bank in Nairobi. Now lives in Norbury London.
R.I.P. Crescent. Heartfelt sympathy to Thelma and all the family.
ReplyDeleteSKIP: You've done an excellent obituary on a giant of a man in Kenya from his sporting ties at the administration level and on the field. There was Crescent selling us his insurance policies when we were still in our teens and it eventually paid off when we were leaving Kenya. Had close ties with him on the field when we represented Caltex, a team that was assembled by the late David Carrasco, without a doubt the best administrator in Kenya. Crescent ran a close second to David and I should know as we worked together for the Kenya Goan Sports Association in organizing field hockey's Gold Cup and Allsopps Cup. The Allsops Cup was the equivalent of the Gold Cup that pitted the best soccer clubs in East Africa. Crescent was part of a dedicated group that included Tom Fernandes and the late John D'Souza. Crescent also played an active role at the Railway Goan Institute in different capacities. We will miss a thorough gentleman. Our condolences go out to Thelma and the family. Norman and Delphine
ReplyDeleteRest in peace Crescent. Condolences to the family. Danny and Pearl Ferrao.
ReplyDeleteMy deepest condolences to my good friend Christopher and his family, for their loss.
ReplyDeleteThoughts and prayers are with you all. xx
Marc Allen
Our deepest condolences to the entire family. May his soul rest in peace.
ReplyDelete