Celebrating Gonz

Gonz has been a wonderful friend to me over the last eight years. He has been a huge blessing in my life, and his passing is a great loss to me and to our community. I will miss his joyful and calming presence and the priority he placed on relationships. I will miss the way he greets you with a big hug and complete attention when he has not seen you for awhile. I will also miss seeing the affection he has for his dear friends- Paul, Scottie and Alfred.

I guess I often forgot that Gonz had a PhD because he rarely talked about his degree and didn‘t have the look of a professor in his blue jeans, bright green Crocs and t-shirt. The way I will remember Gonz the most is the many encouraging words he spoke to me. This last year when we needed some extra help facilitating our newcomers table at our singles’ ministry, I called Gonz to ask him if he would help us. His energetic response put a quick smile on my face when he said -“Christl, I will do anything to help you. “ I then recall his excitement after connecting with the newcomers and having authentic conversations with them over spiritual matters. He loved all types of people, and I knew he was serving in the right place.

In closing I want to say a few words to Gonz- ”Gonz, you have been a constant friend always looking for the best in me and readily communicating affection. Thank you for the practical way you would help us in our ministry at church. Thank you for your example of living with an implicit trust in the Lord. Gonz, because you claimed Jesus as your Lord, you now are with Him and we do celebrate your reunion with our Lord even though our hearts ache to see you again and hear your voice. Gonz, pray that we, your friends here, might continue to work for the Lord with great diligence until He calls us to Heaven when we then can see you again face to face. “

Romans 8:38, 39- For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christl Kirchner

Mountain View, CA

friend of Gonz

Update

7/4/2009 at 20:00 Hrs Indian time.

At This Moment the Body of our Brother Gonzaga has arrived in Goa by Air-India, the same airline that took him to the US somewhere in the early eighties.

Looks like he completed a final circle and is finally going to be rested in his village cemetry in MOIRA on Monday around 17:00 Hrs Indian time.

Jose Da Gama Pais

Condolences

Dearest Fr. Anand & my dear friend Jose,

I’m deeply shocked with no more words to express the loss of my friend Gonzaga. I just don’t know what has taken the toll on him.

As I have written and always expressed, I had a sincere wish to meet Gonzaga someday, that may revive our old memories of Brittos.

I guess that was not in our destiny. May God grant him eternal peace, I pray.

Please accept my sincere condolences and sympathies to you and all in the family, specially your parents who have to be witness to this untimely sad moment.

Reginaldo - Rico, Parra

(Anita/Roberto’s brother)

Until we meet in heaven

God placed a rare gem among us men on earth. And this precious gem could be seen among the old and young, rich and poor, family and friends, relatives and strangers, the strong and infirm, the physically needy and emotionally needy, the deserving and not so deserving , the close or distant--and they were all transformed/ touched/ healed /inspired.

Gonzi, you will never leave my heart. I am still secure with your huge bear hug before your Kenya trip. Bye, until we meet in Heaven.

Cousin Cecilia
Porvorim
Goa, India

Gonzi, my old schoolmate

I’m deeply moved by the number of write-ups in Britto Net and this memorial blog site that have poured following the death of Gonzaga. I’m shocked by his sudden demise.

Like many returnees from East Africa, I was one who often shared my views with him specially during the first difficult years in St. Brittos High School. He was one who shared the Portuguese lingo with me. If memory serves me right, we were class mates from 9th Std. Jolly good fellow, full of naughty smiles with a soul of an angel; I can still recollect his person shining at the school passing out parade of 1979. After leaving Brittos we seem to have been in different worlds, far apart from each other. Nevertheless, I had always wished to meet him in person sometime, someday in our ever-land Goa. Destiny is such and I now feel his loss. May God grant him eternal rest.

I herewith extend my sincere condolences to Fr. Anand Pais, Jose Pais, all his family members and off course all BOBs/friends/well wishers who have associated with him and share this moment of grief. Indeed we have lost an adorable friend.

All that is written in this memorial blog archive speaks for itself - Gonzaga da Gama Pais, my old schoolmate.

Reginaldo Ricardo de Sousa
St. Britto’s Goa (India) class of 1979
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Farewell Dr Gonzaga Da Gama

Yesterday at the First Friday evening mass, I listened to Fr Anand,s homily. I thought it was some anecdote or story that always fills a preacher’s sermon- but suddenly midway I got shaken up when I realized that it was the true happening of Fr Anand’s own brother, Gonzaga. After meeting Fr Anand when the mass was over, along with a crowd of parishioners trying to share his grief, I was totally shocked and saddened on hearing of Gonzi’s sudden passing away and seeing his lovely smiling happy pictures on the table. Listening to Fr Anand and reading the blogsite I seem to know Gonzi intimately (hence I take the liberty of addressing him as Gonzi), and feel that I have missed meeting a great person with so many talents and qualities, and most of all , a person who gave to others and helped others in so many ways. He had so many scholarly and technical achievements, yet finally settled in a field of sociology, touching the lives of others- a social worker in the true sense.

Fr Anand tells of his father passing away when he himself was just 10 years and I can see Gonzi shouldering the additional responsibility – he was so close to his brothers and mother and their children and striving to help the family and acting as a bonding agent throughout, visiting regularly, ringing Mother daily- a model brother and a model son. The more I read the blogsite the more I feel that I missed something and someone.

It also saddens us to see the grief of Fr Anand and his mother ( to whom the news had to be broken only a day later after conditioning her, while she was preparing Gonzi’s favourite dishes for his arrival) - heart rending.

To those who met him and shared with him, it is their good fortune. For us who did not meet him, his ideals will serve as a guide. May his soul RIP and we pray for God to give his mother and family the strength to be able to bear this great loss.

Fr Anand heads a vibrant parish here in Porvorim, Goa, and all of us parishioners are saddened by Gonzi’s sudden death and to see Fr Anand in such grief. We wish to share this grief if we can lighten his. I was once told that all of us are God’s children and He gives us to our parents and families on “Loan”. But when He wants them dearly, He takes them back. We have to be thankful for His gift of the loan of Gonzi to us for 45 years.

Fondly remembered by

John and Meena DeSilva,

Holy Family Chursh Parish,

Porvorim, Goa.

Miss you Gonz

Gonz Gonz Gonz, may your most peaceful heart and soul here on earth serve you well in heaven my friend. I have always admired your compassion and brilliance and know in my heart that you continue to shine. I will always cherish the memories of your truest laughter and joy at the most simple of things, the melodious way you would say my name 'Eeth!', and the important place you put friends and family in your life. I miss you dearly Gonz... love, Ethan (I'm one of Gonz's close friends since our days at U.C. Berkeley in the early 90s).

Ethan Janson
soundkite@yahoo.com
Seattle, Wa

Message from an Impact friend

Gonzaga,

I still cannot understand that you will not came back to the Bay Area from your travels this summer.

Remember we had plans to meet up regularly and I would teach you more German, since you enjoyed studying my language so much, one of your many hobbies, your many passions.

Gonz, I will miss your "Wie geht's?" every single time you came to Impact,our Singles group at church.

You made me feel special Gonz! I will miss helping you to practice your new German sentence you were learning at your German class at San Jose State. You were a busy professor, but you still had time to take interest in other people, cultures and languages!

Gonz it was you, who always encouraged me to trust God for my job to remain here in the US. Thank you for sharing your story with me how God provided for you and how much you learned about God's love for foreigners working in the US and growing in trusting Jesus in the whole process.

I remember it, like it was yesterday, when I shared from the front at Impact that I believe that God collects all our tears about our broken dreams in jars of clay in front of his throne, all our sorrows have to pass the throne of our King first... I appreciated your honesty about your many tears and many broken dreams in your life. I know that deep down in your heart you prayed for a wife for many years, but God did not allow this to happen, I can only cry about this fact.

You were a true gentleman Gonz, you treated all the young ladies at Impact with a lot of respect.

Your German friend Gabrielle, the messenger

P.S.: See you next in our Fathers house in HEAVEN!

A true man

Gonz is a rare soul. He was one of those people that saw you. The first time I met him, I was struck by how real he was. When he asked you how you were doing, he really meant it. He wanted to hear the truth, not the casual "fine." My experience of Gonz was always that he wanted to connect with you; he was committed to letting you know you mattered to him. Gonz and I had wonderful, uplifting conversations about our personal, cultural, spiritual and political beliefs. I love that he called himself a Feminist. He understood the real definition as equality for all. This was a true man. He deeply felt and worked toward all people having what they need and having the freedom to participant in our world. Gonz walked his talk. I felt his passion when I listened to his thoughts and opinions. And boy, did I respect him for his eloquent speaking talent! Standing true to his belief in God, he was able to include the excluded with respect and love. Gonz worked to change the world. He saw he could make a difference...and we know, he did.

Thank you, Gonz, for every conversation I had with you. You always made me feel seen and heard. You inspire me. You remind me of all the good in the world. You model the way I strive to be. I have always looked up to you. Your effect on the world and my little part of it will be everlasting. My promise to you is to continue our work. Your huge light will shine through all of us you touched. Your powerful spirit will live and thrive. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for being a part of my life.

Love,
Robyn Harrington
Novato, CA

Goodbye dear friend and colleague

It is hard to know where to start. Such a dear man, such a friend to so many, an inspired and inspiring teacher, a devoted and committed mentor, a consummate colleague. The accolades and superlatives could go on and on. In the past few days, I have read blogs and email posts from friends, family, and colleagues. They all so richly capture the essence of Gonzaga.

I first “met” Gonzaga from his writings and professional interactions. He was such a bright man! Yet his intellect did not get in the way of his heart. Everything he did was from a centered, compassionate and passionate position. When I finally met Gonzaga in person, I was so glad to meet someone in our field with whom I felt a strong affinity. I wanted to hear all about him and his thoughts on such important issues as inclusion of people with disabilities and all of his efforts to move people with disabilities from “clienthood” to citizenship. Yet, as I began to ask him about himself, he stopped me immediately and told me about my influence on him. I was honored and humbled. And right then, I knew again the kind of person that he was. He was selfless, caring, giving, humble, and kind. He was the kind of person whom I am proud to have called a colleague and friend. Your spirit will not die, Gonzaga. All of your like-minded friends and former students will not let it. We will all strive to be the kind of person you were. We will all strive to be untiring advocates. We will strive to look forward, and not backward, with a contagious smile, just like yours.

Your department, college and university will miss you Gonzaga. You have left a hole. Rather than say, “ a hole we cannot fill...”, because I know that you would not want that, I will say, “a hole that we will strive to fill”. As Dean of the College in which you worked, I pledge to ensure that we keep your spirit alive. For starters, in the fall semester 2009, I will give a need-based scholarship to a graduate student in recreation who best exemplifies your work. You will not be forgotten. You will live with us.

And to your mum and your family, Gonzaga, although I cannot even imagine her and their sorrow, I want her and them to know that you lived a full life in San Jose touching countless people at the university and in the community. For a person to pass through this life with such an impact is rare. You will truly be missed by me and many, many others.

Charlie Bullock
San Jose State University