Class of 63

July 8, 1946 - Feb 23, 2019

Eugene passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, February 23, 2019 at his home. Beloved husband of Maureen of 48 years. Devoted father of Karl and Tamara, Gavin and Danielle. Cherished Papa of Maya, Nicholas, and Elise. He will be missed by his faithful companion Kasper. Dear brother of Olive and Albert Fernandes, Vincent and Joyce Pereira, Trevor and Betty Pereira. Predeceased by his parents Nicolau Paul and Maria Josephine “Jessie” Pereira.

Deeply missed by his extended family and friends. A special thank you to the oncology team at the Credit Valley Hospital. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.

For funeral service information and/or to leave a message for the Pereira family, please visit:

http://www.catholic-cemeteries.com/obituary/eugene-pereira/

Eulogies by Denis Pereira & Gavin Pereira, Eugene's son (via Cyprian Fernandes' Blog)

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A Touch of Class

By Norman Da Costa

Eugene was a classmate, a dear friend and a thorough gentleman. That early morning call on Saturday (Feb. 23) that he had passed away floored me. It just seemed so unreal that Eugene and I, along with several of our friends, will no longer be sharing hearty laughs together. He was the life of any get-together once he warmed up. The warm up usually included a bottle of beer and a stiff dose or two or three of Chivas Regal. Then just like the Energizer Bunny there was no stopping him.

Usually Eugene, another classmate Anthony Miranda and I stole the show and we would have the crowd in stitches. At times it was the same old school jokes but it still drew laughs.

Eugene could stir things up as well. He would get Goans all riled up with his undying support for George W. Bush who was hated by many of us. Eugene launched a bigger war among Goans than the one over the missiles of mass destruction just before he was ready to head home. It was all forgotten the following morning.

Everyone loved Eugene. He was a great husband, father and grandfather.

We studied at the Dr. Ribeiro’s Goan School in Nairobi until 1963. He was always smartly dressed and like several of our classmates only hit the books hard three months before the final exams. And that worked wonders for him as it gave Eugene lots of time to pursue his favorite hobbies – chasing girls and representing the school in hockey, cricket and soccer.

As far as women go both Eugene and I fancied this beautiful girl, but little did I know about his affection for her. When Eugene discovered that I too was interested he would tell me he could pass on any messages to her since they both belonged to the Goan Institute. Little did I know that he would delete my name and insert his. We both lost out.

In hockey he made some dashing runs on the left wing just like his idol Alu Mendonca. Although, a right-hander, Eugene opened the innings for the cricket team as a left-hander and called himself Bill Lawry, the famous leftie opening batsman and captain of the Australian team. He was a stylish batsman and even if he didn’t score we couldn’t drop him as none of the others ironed their pants as well as he did.

Then there’s this photograph of our soccer team where he prominently displayed his new wrist watch. Eugene apparently bugged his dad until he got that watch. The only player with a wrist watch!

For some reason Eugene’s nickname was poder (baker) that I and a few classmates affectionately called him until his passing. Always wanted to find out how he ended up being called poder but never did. We lost contact in 1964 when he and another classmate Cyril Rebello decided to join the British Army. Several classmates gathered at the Nairobi Railway Station to bid them farewell. The general consensus was that Cyril would make the grade, but we didn’t think Eugene would survive the tough army regimen. We were right. We later heard Eugene had instead landed a job with the air force. The air force turned out to be Air India where he was employed for several years.

I remember Eugene making one trip back to Nairobi when he paid me and another classmate Polycarp Fernandes a visit at the Daily Nation. In typical Eugene fashion he wore a three-piece suit on a steamy day. But that was Eugene – always dressed to the hilt. He was Goan School’s answer to Chanel's iconic couturier, Karl Lagerfeld, who left us three days before Eugene.

We picked up our friendship where we left off in Toronto in the 70s and we had some great fun on our fishing trips to Peterboro and on the links. As usual, he was immaculately dressed with the finest fishing apparel. He would dip his rod in for about an hour until he drowned the worm and then doze off. That was his idea of fishing and it was the same with golf. He rarely completed a round and that’s when we first realized he had some medical issues. He bore his illness in his usual calm, courageous and collected demeanor.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to his dear wife Maureen, his sons Karl (Tammy), Gavin (Danielle) and his grandchildren Maya, Nicholas and Elise who he adored.

Farewell dear friend Eugene, we will all remember you and cherish the many wonderful memories we shared together. There's one regret Delphine and I will all always harbour is we will miss our buddy's funeral as we will be away in the Far East.

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'THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND

.....we thought they’d never end.' (Mary Hopkins)

By Vivienne D'Silva

I am so very desperately sad to have lost a dear friend.

Eugene was my classmate at Dr, Ribeiro Goan School, he was funny, handsome, amiable and as Norman said, spent a lot of time quietly scouting the girls, quite naturally so did the girls!

Eugene is be applauded and recognised for the social support network he provided us early DRGS arrivals in London. I remember my own arrival at Gatwick Airport in 1966. He met me and took me to Muswell Hill where I was to live for the following 14 years,

Eugene shared a beautiful apartment at 50 Church Crescent, Muswell Hill, in North London. It became an institution to which most newcomers subscribed. I was no different.

We shared such fun times; after all it was the swinging sixties! Friends from the army, air force, college etc., would visit Church Crescent at weekends to avail themselves of his company, generosity, goodwill and couch space! All supplied with ample good humour. The girls would visit and a party would ensue.

The Green Man pub was our local and although scotch might have been his preferred drink; in those days it probably was only beers. That pub witnessed our Sunday lunches, courtships, engagements, and wedding celebrations. We would meet after mass on Sunday , Maureen, Vincent and Trevor will remember this and often share one small chicken between several of us.

I don’t believe I have seen Eugene in a bad mood, maybe quiet, but most usually smiling. He had a questionable sense of humour, the earliest I can remember of this extended to changing word ‘Het’, used to dismiss a conversation to ‘Chapim’ did you get that? ??? Konkani for Hat!

A Gentleman Walked On Jaffa Dr.

by Eugene's brother, Trevor

23 February will always be a hard day for me, because one week ago on that day in the early hours of the morning my wonderful brother Eugene left us for his celestial abode. Celebrate my brain says, for he has gone home to his Heavenly Father where there is no more pain.... but without him around it's hard to do so, and the tears aren't dry yet. Then I think of the memories he left us with and a smile soon lights up my face. Besides being brothers, the closeness of our ages cemented us together.....helping or defending the other whenever/wherever was a natural reaction.

Early days/School days

This was played out growing up together in our humble dwelling in the Railway Quarters in Nairobi, Kenya. We cheered the other in sports, defending the other when we got into trouble and generally helping out with school work. In Primary school, I recall being incensed when Eugene was harshly punished by a certain Indian educated teacher....so upset I was, that I marched to her office to challenge her! In secondary school we got in trouble for overstaying at the local agricultural show and covered for each other so we wouldn't get into further trouble with mum, for being home late. For extra curricular activities he persuaded me to join the 'Konkani Club'...what I did not know was, a number of other boys/girls were also persuaded to sign up, to make it a fun class....Konkani learnt-zip, dance moves learnt-plenty!

London

Eugene finished his schooling in 1963 and in early 1964 at age 17 he declared he was going off to the UK with his pal Cyril Rebello and they would be working off their passage on a cargo ship sailing from Mombasa. The rest of us at home all protested that he was too young to take on such an arduous journey, but he insisted and mum taking into consideration the political winds blowing over Kenya gave in. Approx 2 years later he came home for a holiday and mum was chuffed to see her son smartly dressed in a 3 piece suite looking very suave and gently spoken....a youngster went out and a gentleman came back....where ever he went the admirers gathered and I fielded a lot of their enquiries! I joined him in London in 1970, and there he was at Heathrow to meet & greet me. He always watched over me and helped me settle in. He Introduced me to Saville Row, London's bespoke tailoring street, where he got all his clothing. He told me he was offered a position in Gieves & Hawkes, a bespoke gentleman's clothing house, but turned it down as he did not come to London to be a tailor! We lived in Muswell Hill in N London an aspiring neighbourhood, and Eugene was Mr Muswell Hill....many knew and loved this charming young man. Many moving on from E Africa stayed with him in London and were made very welcome. Marriage soon beckoned and soon along came Karl. And then he was moving on again with his young family to Toronto, Canada.....I was not apprehensive this time around, after all he was an experienced man now.

Toronto

I followed in Eugene's footsteps and moved on to Toronto in 1988 with my family and there was Eugene at Pearson to meet/greet me again...again doing whatever he could to settle me in. He was more settled now, a family man with another lovely son in tow and yet he found time to achieve an accounting designation....full credit to you, Eugene!

Eugene was very much like Dad, hard working, always caring and kind.....though he was steps ahead in his dress sense...and he wore it well!

Many adjectives aptly apply to Eugene...well-dressed, charming, kind, caring, generous, fun-loving, humorous, readily come to mind.

I watched you struggle in the last few days Eugene and yet you never complained, instead you took time to tell me you are at the end of life in an effort to prepare me for the inevitable! Thank you Maureen, Karl, Gavin and your respective families for doing your ALL for Eugene.

Thank you Lord for loaning Eugene to us, we loved him in life and will continue to love him in death.

And now Eugene you have gone ahead again. When I make it home I'm comforted in the fact that in usual fashion, you will be there to greet me.

Yes indeed, a Gentleman, all suave and debonair walked on Jaffa Drive.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Eugene for being you.

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In Gratitude

"On behalf of the Pereira family, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our family, friends and loved ones that paid your respects to our beloved Eugene. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to all he met, exemplified by the outpouring of words of comfort and support we received following his passing. Your overwhelming tributes, sympathy cards, food, flowers, donations to the Leukemia foundation, visits and acts of kindness have been greatly appreciated by the entire family and quite a comfort to us all during this difficult time. We will always remember Eugene fondly for his sincerity, thoughtfulness, quick wit and calm disposition, and know the warmth of his smile will continue to shine down upon us.

Maureen, Karl and Tammy, Gavin and Danielle, Maya, Nicholas and Elise".