Boni Pinto

Boni Pinto passed away on Jan 4, 2022 with his wife Kate and daughter Naomi and son Henry by his side.   Son of the late Zackarias and the late Rosa Pinto, brother to  Sr. Irene (deceased), Dr. Dominic, Linda (deceased) , Fr. Tony (deceased), Fr Innocent (deceased), Eric, Angela and Claude.

Funeral is scheduled for Friday 3rd Feb at 2pm at St Felix Church, 8 Gainsborough Rd, Felixstowe IP11 7HT followed by a wake at the Orwell Hotel, Hamilton Rd, Felixstowe IP11 7DX.   Condolences and those physically attending, please notify, Naomi Pinto npinto92@googlemail.com

Requiem Mass for Boni Pinto   (link to the entire Mass)

Remarks by the Celebrant

Eulogy by Boni's son, Henry

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Update Feb 18, 2023:

The Sacrifice of Holy Mass in Boni’s memory will be celebrated on Monday 27 Feb. at 10am (UK time) at St. Aidan’s Coulsdon  and can be streamed live on the day or in retrospect thereafter using this link:

https://www.youtube.com/@staidanscoulsdon9171/streams

Announcement from Jan 8, 2023 St. Felix  Church Bulletin: 

Boni Pinto RIP.  We were all very very sad to learn of the death of Boni Pinto, who had been in critical care for almost six months. A week or so ago he seemed to be making good progress, but then there was a serious setback, from which he did not recover. He died surrounded by his devoted family, and after wonderful medical and nursing care at the Ipswich Hospital. Boni was a devout Catholic and a person full of goodness. Quiet, kindly, gracious, generous, he is someone whose passing many will mourn. We send our love and sympathy to Kate, Henry, Naomi and to Rosemary.  May he rest in peace.  

Kate has asked for a Mass to thank the many parishioners who gave support, and who prayed for Boni and the family. 

Our Buddy Boni 

By Ray De Mello

Whereas we mourn the sad passing of Boni, this is also an appropriate venue to reflect on our absolutely amazing past association……especially the brilliantly memorable anecdotes and incidents.  For me personally it was a stroke of luck that I had to repeat my “O Levels” in 1965, thereby coming into contact with miscreants in the shape and form of Tony Sequira, Edwin Paes, Jeffrey Fialho, James Fernandes, the late and great Ronnie “my father is a lawyer” Carvalho and one Boni Pinto!

Amongst other things we “camped” on the Dr. Ribeiro school grounds (and premises!) and the erstwhile late Peter Brown’s father’s farm in Athi River.  With seemingly carefree and cavalier attitudes we experienced these escapades, and survived…..unscathed! Closer to home, we would go to late night movies in Downtown Nairobi, packed like sardines in Edwin’s Ford Prefect.  After the movies we invariably would feast on BBQ chicken, and with suitably full stomachs and the relative safety of the “Ford Prefect,” we would jeer the ‘ladies of the night’ and shamelessly taunt them with offers of fifty cents!  It evidently was not clear to us what the “going rate” was!!......and this IS the TRUTH!

The “winds of change” were rapidly sweeping across East Africa, and soon it was time for Boni to head off to Britain to pursue future studies. It was a sad time for us all, because we instinctively sensed the end of an era! I do recall requesting V.O.K., via “Yours For The Asking” to play Jim Reeves’ “Adios Amigos.”  His departure in 1965 was keenly felt by us all; and yet this was only the beginning of several heartbreaks we would inevitably endure.

Two years later I did catch up with Boni and his school friend Simon Newby in Sheffield, England’s frigid but picturesque and lush North.  Bonnie travelled all the way from Ipswich in Suffolk to see me. It was an emotional reunion to be sure, but was I ever glad to see a familiar face …..and a Goan to boot!  We exchanged notes with the all too familiar linguistic interjections! I came to the instant realization that we were still encapsulated in a 1965 time warp!  Simon and I met first, so he filled me in on Boni’s powerful magnetism, and how he single mindedly threw himself into college life, ever determined to be ‘one of the crowd’…..and he succeeded!  I was of course awe stricken by Boni’s full bloodied foray into British life.  It was an important eye opener for me!  Approximately five years ago, Hyacinth and I had the distinct privilege of hosting Boni and his brother Claude here in Canada.  It was like old times……and nothing could ever equal that experience.

After reading Raymond's beautiful tribute I was able to draw some solace as it reminded me of the joyous times we spent with Boni before we left Kenya. Good Bye my dear friend may your soul rest in peace. I came across a lovely poem by Helen Lowrie Marshall that would be the kind of thing Bonnie would have said:

I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one. 

I'd like to leave an after glow of smiles when life is done.

I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways.

Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days. 

I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun. 

Of  happy memories that I leave when life is done. 

Godspeed my dear friend,

Edwin Paes