by Jane Ida Pinto Muscat - for Daijiworld News Network

Muscat, May 10: He is a man with great passion and tremendous energy - passion to lead his community to achieve the desired goals and  energy to inspire his own people to carry out the work needed and move forward.

He worked for his community with down-to-earth humility and a ready smile on his face. His tireless and constant service to the community transformed the Mangalorean community as one of the vibrant communities of the Sts Peter and Paul Parish – Ruwi.

Certainly, he was instrumental and 'man behind the scene' to organize some of the finest Konkani programmes and even spiritual events like Monti Fest in Oman. He is the founder member of Borpi Mithr – Muscat, a Konkani writers' forum and floated a column 'Tinter' in maibhas.com. He is the editor of Do Re Me Fa - a popular column in www.daijiworld.com  and is set to release a book of the same name, the first of its kind book in Konkani literature. His presence among the Mangalorean community has made a difference during the past 18 years..

He is none other than our own friend, good Samaritan, Konkani activist, singer, poet, actor, organizer and above all a finest and humble human being, Gerry D Mello. After serving in this beautiful country, the Sultanate of Oman, for almost two decades, he is now getting ready to leave his people, friends, community and moving to Canada.

Since his arrival in Oman in the mid-1980's, Gerry had worked selflessly for his community in Oman. He took part in variety of cultural and spiritual programmes. During the past few years' period the whole Mangalorean community had experienced his skills in uniting a community for a good cause. He was one of the pioneers and founder members of the Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish. He had put his heart and soul to unite Mangalorean community in the Sultanate of Oman, and also relentlessly worked for the parish community in various fields. He was the very first and as on today only Mangalorean to have served as vice president of the parish council of the Sts Peter and Paul Church, that too for two terms totalling four years.

Lucy D Mello, his equally active wife, also offered her services to the community in various fields. Lucy, a good singer has won a few prizes in Konkani singing competition. She has actively taken part in all the sports competitions organized by MCCP and won medals too. She was the active member of "Lector Ministry" of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi

Gerry and Lucy have been blessed with four awesome and truly talented children - Nishita, Nicole, Nerissa and Nikhil. All of them, as mentioned earlier in this portal, have excelled in different fields of sports and brought honour to their parents in particular and Mangaloreans in Muscat in general.. They are also showing their brilliance in academics, music and other extra-curricular activities.

Indeed it is sad to say good-bye to a friend like Gerry. But, destiny has its own plans. When Gerry and Lucy are walking towards brighter and greener pastures in Canada, we, on behalf of Mangalorean community in Oman, just say these words :

" Gerry, you will be in our hearts and minds now and always…."