Dr. Paul Sequeira

Class of '58

Sadly, Paul Sequeira, brother of Ancet and Tony, passed away in New York Dec 11, 2020.

Obituary of Dr. Paul Vincent Sequeira

Dr. Paul Vincent Sequeira, 80, of New Britain died Friday (Dec. 11, 2020) at the Hospital of Central CT. He was born in Nairobi, Kenya where he served in the 11th Battalion of the King’s African Rifles, and worked for the game department protecting the wildlife. He received a scholarship that allowed him to move to New York to attend Adelphi University. He would transition from a career in biology, to his true passion of education. While working in the New York public schools for over 25 years as a teacher, principal, and superintendent he would earn his doctorate degree in education from Columbia University. After teaching at Western Connecticut State University he moved to Connecticut to serve as the Superintendent of Schools in New Britain, and sixteen years guiding the development of Waterbury public schools. He served on boards of the Hospital of Central CT, Teikyo Post University, and was a member of the esteemed New Britain Saturday Night Club.

Dr. Sequeira was a tireless believer in providing the best education to all kids, and worked specifically in inner city school districts to advocate for those that were not in the best position to receive one. He was a devoted husband, and loving father who put his family above all else. While proud of his long career of accomplishments, he was most proud of his children. He was a great cook, and was known for his samosa keema patties. He loved to fly, loved to travel the world, and cherished the times that he would go on adventures with his sons.

Dr. Sequeira is survived by his wife Maria (Howard) Sequeira, two sons Paul Vincent Sequeira Jr., and his fiancé Victora Koldertsova; Robert Vincent Sequeira, and his wife, Nika, and grandson Nicolas of New Canaan; and foster daughter Gloria Howard.

Funeral services will be held Friday (Dec. 18, 2020) with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart Church 158 Broad St. New Britain. Burial will be private. A walk through visitation will be Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at the Farrell Funeral Home 110 Franklin Sq. New Britain.

Masks must be worn, and social distancing will be observed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Research Hospital.

Farrell Funeral Home: Dr. Paul Vincent Sequeira

_________________________________________

Dr. Paul Vincent Sequeira

Born: Nairobi, Kenya, July 19th 1940 – Deceased: New Britain ,CT, USA ,Dec 11th 2020

By Greg Patricio

Paulie was a “diamond in the rough”. He persevered through the ups and downs that life threw at him. He never ducked, he took it on the chin and surfaced smiling.

We went to the same school. I was a cub scout and Paul was big brother, the scout I looked up to... him with all them badges. I also admired his classmates—they were a happy-go-lucky bunch. To name a few: Joyce, Vincent, Rudy etc,. Hap, hap, happy days of yore.

In recent months, I always said to Paul: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” This was soooo true of Paulie—he left the Dr. Ribeiro Goan School and finished at the St. Theresa School in Eastleigh, Nairobi cycling many miles to get there. Paulie was “a gentleman and a scholar”. He studied and worked hard—and earned his PhD from Columbia, an Ivy League university.

His kindness extended to Gloria, a niece in need of a father, who he and his wife Maria graciously fostered.

Regretfully, I, together with his sister Ancet and my classmate, had to finish school early and leave the Dr. Riberio Goan School, due to circumstances beyond our control. Hence we went our ways and I lost touch with Paulie. But lo and behold, Paul surfaced at the company I worked for, Cable&Wireless. He worked at the Wireless Radio Receiving Station at Ngong and I worked at the Central Telegraph Office downtown. Hence we met again at the company Christmas party (see photo). He then joined the army—the Kings African Rifles.

We lost touch for over 30 years, but I then heard he was in Connecticut, where my sister lived, and I managed to get his phone number. Henceforth, we were in touch quite often and we had long chats and exchanged frequent e-mails. Paul had a unique speaking tone that identified him. His greeting every time he called was soooo warm and sincere... “HeloooGreggHowAreYoou!!!”. I miss him so much.

Paulie, was the only guy who knew the old-time Nairobi township that we grew up in... this was what made our conversations so interesting. The Goans were always in some sport or other—bars, clubs and music were in our blood: our Portuguese heritage.

We reminisced about places: Campos Ribeiro Avenue, River Road, Grogan Street, Sequeira Bar & Billiards, driving the rough mud road to Mombasa (320 miles in about 8hrs), or taking the 13-hour train trip. We talked about the City Park Cemetery, I had forgotten all about it, although it was on my daily route to school from Pangani, via Forest Road. He said he has family interred there (may they rest in peace, amen).

Regretfully, Paul suffered from a kidney problem and he bravely opted for peritoneal dialysis at home (nightly). He was conscientious and did well with this treatment for several years. He even managed to travel. Unfortunately, in recent months, the dialysis did not work efficiently and he had to undergo surgery to prepare him for hemodialysis. Henceforth, he then had to travel to a center three time a week and be there for at least 3 to 4 hours. He found this very tiresome, uncomfortable and felt the cold during this procedure.

Thanksgiving, Nov. 26th was Paul’s last day at home. It was a good day with his family and especially his grandson whom he doted on. He was admitted to hospital that evening... but he never recovered. Somehow he also contracted Covid-19. I believe he expired of respiratory and heart failure.

_________________________________________