Class of '63

Alfred De Araujo, ex Nairobi, cherished Husband of Blandi, Son of Charles/Flora De Araujo (late), Son-in-law of Tommy/Lyra Emar De Souza (late), adored Father of Alexandra/Terry, Patricia/Christian & Natasha/Kris and doting Grandpa to Sophie & Thomas passed away peacefully on 2 October 2018 with his wife and children around him following a courageous battle with Cancer. He is dearly missed by them all.

A heartfelt thank you to all the staff at the Royal Marsden Hospital for their first class medical care and expertise. We are eternally grateful for all that they did.

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"To Dance With My Father Again"

A Tribute by Patricia, Alfred’s Daughter

So where does one start when talking about someone so incredible? Well I think it is fair to say Dad lived life to the full!

Dad was a happy, bouncy boy. He loved to play. When he was 6, Dad would run around showing off with a knitting needle, pretending he was a cowboy and the knitting needle was a gun. When anyone went passed, he would pull the knitting needle out from his pocket and aim it at them to “get them” so to speak! On one occasion however, a tad over-excited, Dad ended up piercing his belly button with the knitting needle when he went to put it in his pocket and ended up being rushed to hospital!

This explained Dad’s overcautious approach to his 3 daughters going near anything resembling a knitting needle when we were around that age!

Dad emigrated from Aden to Kenya in 1956. He attended the Dr Ribeiro Goan School in Parklands Nairobi, where he made some friends for life. The group have come to be known as “the Class of 63”, and they regularly stayed in touch as adults.

Moving towards work now, at a very young age, Dad started as a Reporter at the Daily Nation in Nairobi, Kenya – the highest circulating independent newspaper in Kenya.

He quickly worked his way up the ranks from Reporter to Sub Editor at aged just 18, and then Chief Sub Editor of the Daily Nation at aged 25.

In October 1978, Dad became the Managing Editor of the Sunday Nation newspaper in Kenya.

Alongside Dad’s career at the Nation, he worked as a Correspondent for the Associated Press from July 1970 to August 1982.

During his tenure at the Nation, Dad interviewed some prominent celebrities and political figures of that time, including Bobby and Ethel Kennedy (who Dad spent 2 days with, even seeing them off at the Airport when they returned to the US!). US astronaut Gordon Cooper, Boxer Muhammad Arlee, Actor Michael Caine, Indira Ghandi, Kenyan Track and Field Athlete Henry Rono, Former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Willy Brandt and Jacqueline Kennedy (wife of Former US President John F Kennedy) to name just a few!

Visitors to our home would take great delight in seeing Dad’s treasured collection of photos with the many famous names he interviewed, and more so, in listening to Dad’s encounters with these individuals. He could tell a story in such a way that you were left on the edge of your seat wanting to hear more. He had a real way with words. His dream was to publish a book retelling all these encounters, something he started whilst being an inpatient at the Royal Marsden Hospital, but sadly never completed.

It is indeed a marvel how someone so young undertook so effectively such prominent and responsible positions within the media.

It was said by several of Dad’s colleagues at the Nation that despite the stress, pressure and frantic deadlines he had to meet, Dad was always very approachable, sporting a big smile on his face. He was truly humble and he took it all in his stride.

Of course at this time, Dad was not just focused on his career. In 1974, Dad married the love of his life, my Mum.

In the Summer of 1976, the US Government invited 26 newspaper Editors from across the globe to the US to mark 200 years since the founding of the USA in 1776.

With baby number 1 (my sister Alexandra) at home with Mum, Dad left Kenya for California in July 1976, for a trip of a lifetime, for 6 weeks.

Driving in convoy across the United States of America in their brand new campervans, Dad and the other Editors enjoyed meeting Governors and other VIPS, attending BBQs, parties and visiting famous sites.

A few months ago, I was sat by Dad in hospital and I asked him what the highlight of this trip was. He told me there were many, but he went on to explain, with tears in his eyes, that the biggest highlight was when he phoned Mum from Cheyenne, Wyoming and she told him she was pregnant ...with me...

In 1979, my parents welcomed baby number 3, my sister Natasha, and this completed the family of 5.

In January of 1983, Dad took the decision to come to the UK in search of new opportunities for his family, with us following shortly after.

Within a week of his arrival in the UK, he secured a job at the Surrey Mirror as a Sub Editor.

Within a year, Dad was promoted to Chief Sub Editor and later to Deputy Editor.

In 1986, Dad was appointed Editor of the Dorking and Leatherhead Advertisers and thereafter in July 1988, he was made Editor of the Surrey Mirror Series, a position he held for a number of years.

In January 2010, Dad turned his attentions to a career within the Department for Work and Pensions as an Executive Officer, where he remained until his passing in October 2018. It is true to say that during his time with the DWP, Dad forged many wonderful friendships with his colleagues, which I know meant the world to him.

Over the years, Dad has been described by colleagues as their “work dad”. He had a natural paternalistic side to him. He was a trusted friend, a mentor to many throughout his life both personally and professionally and always offered a helping hand.

To us as his children, he offered wisdom and guidance which was invaluable, continuing this into our adult lives.

Many a time, my sisters and I would call him to seek his guidance on a course of action, always knowing that he would offer us his full and frank opinion, always with our best interests in mind.

Dad was a person of few words, but when he talked, we all listened. He never talked for the sake of talking.

Most of you will know that my Dad had a huge appreciation for all things John F Kennedy. Why JFK, you may ask? At the age of just 14, Dad was inspired by the speeches of JFK. During one of our chats at the Royal Marsden a few months ago, he told me that when he was 14, he took a Life Magazine from the Barbershop. This Life Magazine contained the inaugural speech of John F Kennedy. Dad was deeply inspired by JFK’s values and beliefs and this started the JFK obsession. During his life, Dad amassed a huge collection of JFK artefacts and memorabilia. I almost considered it my duty to update him if there was a JFK documentary being shown on television!

Dad enjoyed travelling with Mum and together they visited many different countries across the far-flung corners of the globe. Possibly due to his fascination with JFK, one of his favourite countries was the US. In November 2017, my parents returned from a cruise in Venice. Sadly, this was to be my Dad’s last holiday, for on 6 December 2017, he was rushed to hospital and was immediately admitted with Sepsis and shortly thereafter diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, a diagnosis which turned our family’s world upside down.

Dad defied the odds and beat the Sepsis, to be able to commence intensive chemotherapy treatment which he underwent as an inpatient at the Royal Marsden Hospital, with intermittent and short visits home where he was so lovingly cared for by his soulmate, my devoted and inspirational Mum.

The next 8 months proved to be one battle after another, with very little respite for Dad.

Throughout the 9-month battle, Dad never once complained and his thoughts and concerns were for those loved ones around him, rather than himself.

I think this speaks volumes about the type of man he was, so loving, selfless, kind, caring and thoughtful of others.

In August of 2018, when Dad received news that he had just weeks to live, his primary concern was not for himself, but for my Mum, my sisters and I who he would be leaving behind.

I know that my Dad will live on in the memories of all those whose lives he has touched. I feel so lucky to have had such a wonderful Father. Despite all the odds, he displayed courage and tenacity until the very end. He has filled my world with moments I will treasure forever.

My Dad never got to meet his hero John F Kennedy in his lifetime. Dad, I hope the interview is going well up there.

I was lucky enough to meet my hero, and privileged to have been able to call him Dad.

Sleep tight Dad. You are missed by us all.

Alf & Blandi

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