Once in a lifetime for most people, there comes along an individual, modest and unassuming, kind and selfless, a genuinely good man, the type who rarely has obituaries written about him, but who was extraordinary in ways that make him stand out head and shoulders over others. Much like RK Laxman’s eponymous ‘common man’ who touched so many lives was our friend Lester Fernandes, who passed away on August 2, 2016.
Lester was born in Kenya in 1961, the second of three sons. He arrived in Goa at the age of 8, shortly after the death of his father, to board at St. Britto’s, Mapusa. Lester was scholarly and excelled in public speaking, drama and extracurricular activities. In his final year he was elected to the school parliament.
After school, Lester started training for the Jesuit priesthood at Loyola Hall in Miramar, whilst studying for a BSc at Dhempe College. There, exposed to liberation theology and against the backdrop of the turbulent 70’s, moved by the state of emergency and increasing hunger and poverty, his world view was transformed. He subsequently joined the fledgling Progressive Students Union to fight for a fairer society and campaigned for many issues ranging from concessionary bus fares for students to the capitation fees scandal. Lester was irrepressible in his creative ability which he used to great effect in his work at Gomantak Times, ERA Wordsworth Publications, Weekender Magazines, the Marriage Guide publications and Sangath and, latterly, in organizing events, coaching and personal development. He was also a cartoonist and performer, with great flair for street-theatre, and would throw himself into these diverse roles with natural and complete commitment.
But, beyond his numerous and multi-faceted professional talents, for us, as for his many friends, Lester will always be remembered as the quintessential ‘nice guy’, the gentleman in every sense of the word, the go-to person for everything from recommending craftsmen to restaurants, from sourcing the choicest urak to finding lost acquaintances, from helping out when times were tough to taking an injured dog to the vet. He remained, through his life, sincere in what he believed in, non-judgmental about other points of view, always preferring pragmatism over confrontation, detesting duplicity, and never apologetic for the values he believed in. Bob Marley, a musician whose songs we all loved, wrote, “the greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively”. By this yardstick, Lester’s greatness reached heights we can only aspire for. Goa has lost a unique and precious son. The large congregation who came to pay their last respects at his funeral will always remember a man who served to remind that it is in giving that we receive. We only wish he had taken as much as he gave.
