It is with great regret to announce the recent passing of Tony Coutinho, brother to Frank (deceased), Mary, Lena, Lucy and Alban.

________________________

A Tribute to My Pal, Tony Coutinho

In our lives on this earthly coil there are special people who leave an imprint on our hearts and on our minds. That person for me was my childhood friend, Tony Coutinho, whose funeral service takes place today, May 20, 2020, in Etobicoke, Ontario.

It is true to say that of all the friends I was fortunate to know and love in the magical days of our youth in Nairobi, Kenya, there was none closer to me than Tony Coutinho. We knew each other not only from our school days at Dr Ribeiro Goan School, but also when the Coutinho family lived at Martins Hotel in the centre of town, when I was a frequent and welcomed guest. Our days at school were immensely memorable for all the moments of fun and pleasure that Tony and I derived from our association with our many fellow-students, either at classes or on the fields of sporting endeavour. Tony and I both represented the school football team and I recall Tony being a talented high-jumper winning many trophies at various athletics events.

However, my bond of friendship with Tony, slowly but surely, began to solidify in the period when our families moved to the Goan Colony in Nairobi South ‘B’.

Growing up as young lads in this unique environment was truly exciting as special bonds of love and friendship were forged and cultivated between the many other families that had also moved to the area. Most of the families being Catholic meant that we all shared common interests of love, respect,

understanding and worship on a day-to-day basis. During the period that we were not at school, Tony and I spent much of our free time on the local fields of football or cricket with many other lads also disposed to experiencing the joys of youthful camaraderie and competition. It soon became evident that others like Tony’s brother, Alban, together with Antonio (Lulu) Vas and Ray Gonsalves, grew closer as friends. We spent so much time together that we decided to call ourselves ‘The Conquistadores’. Our special friendship meant that we often visited each others’ homes thereby establishing further bonds of love and fraternity with other members of our respective families. In my case, my family always knew that, whenever I was not at home, it was because I was with Tony at some place or another.

Our love of football led us, in those days, to support various English teams and most of our close-knit group supported Manchester United. Soon we were to start our own football team calling ourselves ‘The Young Wanderers’, with home-made uniforms of black shorts and white shirts with red braided stripes on the sleeves. Tony played in goal and we had many successful victories against other English club teams that prevailed in those days. I recall that Alban, being a talented dribbler, would score most of our goals! When not occupied elsewhere, Tony and I would often arrange to meet at the ends of our respective street corners, in fading sunlight, when we talked about our achievements of the day or planning for the next day. These plans would have included fishing trips, or trips to the local drive-in cinema, but more often than not, trips to the town centre in his blue VW Beetle. There we would arrange to meet other friends either at coffee places like ‘Rendevous’ or ‘Tropicana’ or at the famous ‘Thorn Tree Cafe’ opposite the other meeting place, Woolworths. Sometimes we would just stroll along the main avenue. We shared many friends, fun and frivolity, and even personal belongings. Our friendship was to continue when we were both resident in London and shared a flat with his brother, Frank. Often, time was spent then in snooker halls or at Ladbrokes.

It is said that ‘birds of a feather flock together’ as well as ‘a friend in need is a friend in deed’. I am proud and privileged to have been part of that ‘flock’ and was always grateful to Tony for being there when needed. One of the beatitudes says’ blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted’. I am now comforted in the knowledge and belief that Tony has joined his parents, Frank, and our fellow-conquistador, Ray, in Heaven

Adios compadre Tony. Rest in Peace

Lambert Pereira

Alban, Tony, Raul Costabir (standing), Lambert and Fatima

________________________

Maestro

Tony was not supposed to leave us; he was expected to always be there, because he was after all the warm and compliant, but redoubtable “Maestro.” For many of us, he remained an enigma, though the self proclaimed sobriquet did offer us an insight into his zest for life and all it had to offer, as he over the years slipped in and out of our lives. Even though many of us for the most part had only fleeting contacts with him, when we did meet at an occasional G.O.A. function or an Alma Mater gathering, conversation easily drifted into a mode that suggested that it was only yesterday that we were together reminiscing and guffawing about our childhood escapades, and somewhat making light of current travails. No subject was off limits, up to and including embarrassing past (and present!) peccadilloes!

Like so many of us, Tony was a student at The Dr. Ribeiro Goan School, and graduated in 1960, the period of Rev. Fr. Mckay’s tutelage. In his senior years he excelled as an athlete, and played a pivotal role in the success of the soccer team, eventually bringing his soccer skills to Canada, and adeptly using them to great advantage, most notably when he worked for Air Canada. However, his Air Canada foray is more importantly remembered for the critical evidence he submitted regarding the downing of the Air India 747 into the Irish sea.

In Nairobi he enjoyed a fruitful association with D.T. Dobbies, a Mercedes Benz dealership, where he deployed his skills as a Service/Technical advisor with distinction. He was able to transfer his skills to the U.K where he worked for Walter Scotts garage in London.

Tony lived in Nairobi South “B”, on Zanzibar Road, not too far from where I lived. What I do remember vividly are the fabulous “white” guavas that grew in his backyard, mostly unavailable for random picking by urchins like myself because of their ferocious dog “Tiger!”

Tony had his own group of local soccer playing “buddies”, amongst them, Lambert Pereira, ”Lulu” Vaz and the late Fr. Innocent Pinto, to name a few.

His erstwhile and very tall friend Cajie Menezes is presently domiciled in Calgary. As a younger and awestricken onlooker in the Nairobi South days, I could not help but marvel at their strident walks. For every massive and easily taken stride that Cajie took, Tony seemed to take two frantic steps!! My observation...for what its worth!

Rest in peace “Maestro,” and thank you for being your generous self.

Ray (Bijoo) De Mello

________________________

1960 Football Champs: Standing (L to R):

1. Michael Dias 2. Luis Gracias, 3. Alex Fernandes 4.Cajetan Menezes 5 Anthony Cardozo 6. Hubert DeSouza 7. Onnie De Souza. 8 Philip (Lulu) Vaz

Sitting: 1. Roldao Menezes 2. Atwell DeSouza 3.Vincent Luis 4 Remedius DeMello 5. Fr Mackay

Floor: 1. Tony Coutinho 2. Camilo Leitao

Just part of the notorious Nbi. South B Gang