Team Herald
PANJIM: Writer, columnist, former diplomat and Catholic lay leader, George Menezes, passed away on Friday evening at his home in Bandra. He was 87. The funeral service will be held on Sunday at 11 am at St Andrew’s Church in Bandra.
A former IAF pilot, Menezes was also part of the corporate world, but was best known for his writings, his humour bringing a smile to the lips of his many fans and readers. His books ‘Pardon, Your Middle is Showing’, ‘The Naked Liberal’, ‘One Sip at a Time’, are remembered by thousands who have read them.
Menezes, who originally hails from the island of Diwar, was living in Mumbai and is survived by a son and a daughter.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Association of Goa (CAG) condoled Menezes’ death and called him an outspoken lay conscience of the Catholic Church in India. Menezes was president emeritus of the All India Catholic Union, a member of Pope John Paul’s Pontifical Council for Laity, member of Asian Bishop’s Think Thank and closely associated with CAG in Goa.
CAG president Edwin Fonseca while condoling Menezes’ death highlighted his work on compassion and concern for human rights especially against heinous acts of genocide committed against Christians in Orissa, Karnataka and elsewhere in 2008.
“George always fought for peace in India, stressing on the need to uphold the Constitution’s multi-religiosity and multi-culture,” Fonseca said.
