Victor Cardozo

by Norman Da Costa

Victor Cardozo was an entrepreneur, a sports aficionado and a man heavily involved in community and church work. He was unassuming but at the same time determined to fulfill the goals he had set for himself.

Despite receiving awards from different organizations for his services, he often said that one of his greatest thrills was being appointed chairman of the board of governors of the Dr. Ribeiro Goan School in Nairobi by the Kenya Government. In a chat with Victor in 2006 when the school celebrated its 75th Anniversary in Toronto, he said: "Being appointed chairman of the board was one of the most fulfilling and satisfying moments in my life, especially since it was my alma mater."

Victor was the first ex-student to hold this important position and, under his guidance, the school introduced Forms 5 and 6.

He took over as president of the Goan School ex-students´ committee from me in 1999 and was commended for holding a highly successful function. By virtue of being a former president, he was a member of last year´s committee as well.

I first remember meeting Victor in the late ´60s at the Kenya boxing championships in Nairobi and was pleasantly surprised to see that after ex-student Cornelius Monteiro, a policeman and former Olympic referee, another Goan had also decided to get involved as an official in a sport that was predominantly run by the British with all the boxers being local. Victor was roped in by the highly-influential army man, Lt. Col. Cromwell Mkungusi, and became part of the very competitive armed forces boxing team that produced several world class and Olympic boxers including the famous Philip Waruinge.

Victor joined the armed forces soon after Kenya attained independence and, in 1972, President Daniel Arap Moi promoted him to Lieutenant Colonel, at the time the youngest and only ex-student to attain that rank.

After moving to Canada with his wife Rosita and children, Victor still held on to his business interests in East Africa and travelled back several times.

Despite his busy schedule, Victor continued with his community and church activities. He was knighted for his service to the church by Pope Paul II in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in recognition of his humanitarian work. Victor also received the Sovereign Order of the Knights of the Order of Malta for his services to Canada and the Third World.

Victor passed away on Aug, 26, 2004 after a valiant battle with cancer. He left behind his wife Rosita, his sister Philo (Francis), his children - Dolcette (Andrew), Dwen (Cora), Derwyn (Velda), Darryl (Kelly), his grandchildren - Ashlin, Palma-Rosita, Brice, Shea, Alex, Cara, Antonia-Victoria, Luke, Marc-Anthony, nephew and nieces - Linus, Loretta, Lovella, his in-laws Noemia (Gaby), Willie, Octavio, their families and countless friends.

Links

http://www.goanvoice.org.uk/supplement/VictorCardozo.html