A TRIBUTE TO DR. OLIVIO MASCARENHAS FROM CHINCHINIM WHO PASSED AWAY ON 19TH JULY 2016 AFTER A PROLONGED ILLNESSBy Dr. Francisco Colaço There comes a time in everyone’s life when the inevitable call comesknocking, sooner or later. As the Grim Reaper arrives, even the brave and thebold must surrender! Beneath death’s black veil, memories are soon forgotten;but, there are men like Dr. Olivio who never really die. Why? Because his life was sownin toil and bore much fruit. Selflessly, he turned this earthly sojourn into asaga of service, into a dreamlike gossamer of deeds woven sopainstakingly. Lives like Olivio’s standforever as a living monument for posterity to emulate. And as we gather to pay our last homage to him it is possible to say inthese beautiful Portuguese words: “o culto dos mortos é o culto dos vivos” porqueos mortos têm uma existência contínua e possuem a capacidade de influenciar asorte dos vivos.Friends, to this great son of Goa who lit a flame that will blaze forlong, let’s bow in reverent homage as we pledge to live the way he lived.His real greatness to me resided in the fact that, in the conduct of hislife, good morality and sound principles reigned supreme in whatever he did.We are fellow travellers to some destination. Our gardens are harvested,autumn leaves fall; withered flowers are buried with ceremony. Truly, deathstalks us everywhere! Here a friend dies, there a loved one – grim reminderthat we too are finite. Slowly creeps in the eerie feeling, all at once, thatwe are living and dying, every day, every year. Olivio was a doctor-physician practicing clinical medicine in Goa formany years. More than in any other profession, he as a doctor encountered death-- almost on a daily basis. This could harden the hearts of a few. But for Oliviothese “life-and-death” situations provided the golden opportunity to preparefor his own final face-to-face encounter with God.Yes my dear brothers and sisters. Death comes in many ways. Some commitsuicide. Many, tragically, die through heart attacks, strokes, and trafficaccidents. In several instances, it is a long and protracted illness thatleaves one with nothing to do but wait helplessly for the end…Death is universal. Benjamin Franklin wrote, “In this world nothing canbe said to be certain, except death and taxes”. As a pilgrim Olivio knew tokeep uppermost in his mind the thought that we are travelers to someplace, notfrom someplace. And that, I am sure, brought him peace and calm, so visible inhis visage till the very end, despite immense physical suffering, convinced ashe was that his final destination was Heaven - only Heaven. As a phamily physician he was among the rarest. Patients would bare theirhearts to him and make him privy to their own confidentialities allowing himthat privileged ringside view of the human drama, suffering, courage, life anddeath – the stuff of which life is made.He graduated through Escola Médica e Cirúrgica de Goa. He belonged to ageneration of doctors called autodidatas (selftaught). They studied throughbooks and treatises in French, Spanish, Italian, English, Portuguese, etc.When they came out, what they grasped was the distillation, the essence,of the best they had learnt, thanks to their teachers and their own personalefforts.The moment Olivio started his practice he was flooded with patients, withlittle time even to breathe. Why was he so successful? Because Olivio hadextremely polished medical skills, a reassuring bedside manner, a high personalstandard of ethics and professionalism.Olivio was always a great academician, a constant learner who kepthimself up-to-date; someone, who never bothered about the money or businessaspect of running a profitable clinic. In his own words he was the João Semana, who in his errands had a chanceto plumb the depths of the human soul.Just like his name, which is so rare, he was also unique, one in amillion. He may have never been the President of a Medical Association or madegreat media headlines, but people like him are the true stars of our professionbecause they are the ones who give real meaning to the word doctor as healersof humanity.He was my best friend, someone without whose advice, encouragement, wordsof comfort I could not do. I cherished his friendship like gold.Now that he is gone I know that he is saying to all his dear ones, to hisBeloved wife Ivette, to hiss loving children Jocelyn, Erlick and Natasha, tothe entire family, and friends like me and you the words of this beautifulpoem: My dear beloved, I must leave.The world no longer needs me.It's my time to be gone, until we meet again someday.Don't you cry now, I know I'll be okay.Trust that I'll never forget you.Don't be sad now; just close your eyes until it's through.Hold my hand, don't open your eyes yet...Wait when I no longer whisper.My dearest ones, you'll be fine.I'll be up there watching over you.For the times I'll be gone, don't ever forgetThe words I whispered to you.God calls on my name... and I have to let go of your hand now...Please don't cry... smile for me.Because I'm with the one who made us all.Remember, I'll always love you.So come, wave me goodbye...It'll be painful but we have to...Hug me, hug me tight, feel the words I can no longer say.I'm going to miss you all.Just pray because I'll always listen.And one day, when it's your time,I'll be there for you...Just like the way I used to....I love you OLIVIO. MYOLIVIO, GOOD BYE FOR NOW.UNTIL WEMEET AGAIN
