The sudden and unexpected death of Dr Jose Colaco was reported via cyberspace earlier on Saturday (Goa time) and confirmed today. JC, as he liked to sign off his emails, was an alumni of the Goa Medical College from the 1960s and a pediatrician in the Bahamas for a long time. He spent his youth in Pune (then Poona).
More importantly to us, he was an active and enthusiastic participant in very many discussions in cyberspace, has long been an active member of Goanet. He was also closely associated with The Goan Forum network, and also the Colaco.net website through which he networked with Goans across the globe and also shared the writings of many. See this link to his family roots and his cherished connections to the villages of Velim (Salcete) and Carambolim (Tiswadi): http://www.colaco.net/1/colacos.htm The unanticipated news of his death took many by surprise, as Sweden-based Lianne Falk-Rodrigues (journalist and alumni of Carmel's College, Goa) said: "Just heard the sad and shocking news that Dr Jose Colaco has passed away." Lianne added that his funeral will be in the Bahamas. He leaves behind his wife, three children and families, and eight grandchildren. In Canada, Michael Pinto shared a short, terse message while the day dawned in that part of the world: "Dr.Joe Colaco passed away today." A message shared by JC's niece Carol, shared via cyberspace, said: "Rest peacefully my dearest Unca Jose Colaco. You were like a Dad to me... will miss you dearly. You are now in Heaven and will see you one day. You left so sudden without even saying 'Goodbye My Girl'. Save some red wine for me ...Love You Always ..your 19th favourite niece (I am his favourite but he loved saying that.)" Valmiki Faleiro, author and active cyber discussant from Margao, said: "Just learnt from Dr. Lynette Colaco Martins, via her FB page, that her father (and our Goanet friend), Dr. Jose Colaco is no more.... Doutorbab passed away peacefully while on holiday. The funeral will be held in Nassau, she said." Santosh Helekar, a Goan researcher in Texas added: "Josebab passed away in his sleep last night.... He died while on vacation with his extended family in the Dominican Republic. Feels terrible to have lost another friend whom I never got a chance to meet in person. Very sad indeed! Funeral will be held next weekend in the Bahamas." Dr Colaco had discussions (even arguments) with some of us, held on fast to what he believed, but was always a gentleman in his disagreements. He was involved with Goanet perhaps from its earliest days since its founding in 1994. One particular incident I remember was when I asked for "Santa Claus' address" online, in those early times in cyberspace, when few websites were available and we communicated mainly via email. JC asked me (off channel) what it was for, and I mentioned that a friend's daughter wanted to write to "Santa" for a particular CD popular among kids of her age. JC gave his own address (or created a temporary one), and received the mail as Santa. On his way back to Goa, he made use of a halt at London to pick up the exact CD, claim it came from "Santa" and even apologise for being so late. It was February. I couldn't believe anyone could take so much trouble .... for a child he didn't even know. >From all his discussions, it was obvious that Goa was always high up in his thoughts. On behalf of Goanet, our sincere condolences to the entire family, including Emma, Alan and Vanessa, Lavina and Noel, Lynette and all the names missed out.... -- Frederick Noronha (on behalf of Goanet). -- _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/ _/ Frederick Noronha http://about.me/noronhafrederick http://goa1556.in _/ P +91-832-2409490 M 9822122436 Twtr @fn Fbk: fredericknoronha _/ Goa,1556 shared audio content https://archive.org/details/goa1556 _/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/