According to information conveyed to me by Rita Henriques of the Casa de Goa, Mr. Jorge de Abreu Noronha (b. 29.07.1930) passed away today, 27 Nov. 2007. His body will remain exposed at the mortuary chapel of Figueirinha (Oeiras) from 17 h tomorrow evening, and will be moved to the crematorium of the cemetery of Olivais on Thursday at 14 h. Our heartfelt condolences to his wife D. Livia Noronha and his two children and four grandchildren. With his ancestry linked to Pomburpá / Assagão and Piedade (Divar), Mr. Jorge de Abreu Noronha studied at Rachol Seminary and completed BA at St. Xavier's, Bombay, before migrating to Angola at the age of 27. Following the independence of Angola, he settled in Portugal. Was actively involved in the Casa de Goa, where he started and contributed regularly to its Bulletin. Was also a regular contributor to several other journals and web forums related to Goa. I got to know Mr. Jorge and Mrs. Livia in the Konkani classes I conducted at the Fundação Oriente (Lisbon) during some years, starting 1996. Mr. Jorge was keen to improve his knowledge of Devanagari script. In 2002 he offered his services to conduct Konkani courses for the beginners at the Casa de Goa, and produced the wordings for the Casa de Goa anthem. Mr. Jorge de Noronha Abreu will be missed by the Goan community of Portugal. May his enthusiasm for Goan culture and Konkani language continue to inspire the Goans in Portugal for many years to come in order to fulfill what Casa de Goa will continue singing in its anthem:
Sounsthe, tuji ponntti pettoi, Vatt amkam dakhoi Samballunk hi amchi sounskrutai Ani girest osmitai.
