E. Joseph Percival Terence Perera:

A Benedictine legend of the 21st century

A past cricket captain, coach, gymnast and an army wizard bid farewell to his earthly life recently amidst a large and distinguished gathering at the Madampitiya cemetery.

He was honoured for his loyalty, commitment, dedication, unwavering attitude and for the legacy which he had left behind for the future generation to emulate. He lived a contended and a blessed life completing 101 years, serving mankind with his talents and fulfilling the will of God.

Late Uncle Terence as we most respectfully addressed him was born to Mr. and Mrs. Illangage Gregorey Perera on 4th August 1910 at Mayfield Road, Kotahena and had his entire education at St. Benedict's College from 1921 to 1933 under the guidance and the tutelage of the De La Salle Brothers. He represented College at cricket, soccer and hockey.

In 1930 he played for the College First XI under the captaincy of Shelton Perera, and in 1931/32 under the captaincy of Sosimus Cruz. In 1933 Uncle Terence Captained the First XI Cricket team. His other team mates had been Vernon Arnolda, Eric De Mel, Austin Gunawardena, Aloy Perera, R. L. Perera, Emmanuel Roche, Gregory Fernando and two other Surname's noted in his biography are Karavita and Almeida.

His cricket coaches at that time was Peter Pulle and G. V. Perera. During his period at College Rev. Bro. Claude had been the Director while Rev. Bro. Philip as Sub Director. At that time the primary had been located next to the K. C. Y. M. A. named as Kotahena Mills which was destroyed in the ethnic riots in 1983.

In the 1930s the only play ground which the College possessed was the quadrangle. All matches played at the quadrangle was won by the College team as the players were familiar with the ground condition, terrain etc. The Railway and the Tamil Union grounds were hired when required.

In 1925 the junior cadets of the College won the Herman Loos Cup for the best junior cadet troop where Gilbert Perera was the Sergeant of the junior cadet platoon. Uncle Terence too was a member of this particular cadet troop.

In 1931 Uncle Terence represented the College First XI soccer team which emerged as Inter-School Champs. The team had been coached by Rev. Bro. Andrew and captained by Bruno Martin James and the team members had been Aloy Perera, Kaithan Corea, H. L. De Mel and Eric Mel.

In 1933 after the cricket season was over Uncle Terence left college and joined the Ceylon Garrison Artillery and had to undergo training at the Diyatalawa Camp. During this period he was adjudged the best trooper, on merit alone and was awarded the Gold Crest. After concluding his training period he joined Walker and Greig Ltd. In 1935 he represented the company in “B” Division cricket where they emerged champs. Uncle Terence's contribution towards this success had been noteworthy.

During the Second World War Uncle Terence had been recalled for military duty and was attached to the Ceylon Garison Artillery from 1939 to 1946. It was noted that this regiment had created history by employing five brothers in the same family namely Leslie, Wilton, Terence, Bertram and Irving to serve during the war.

In 1947, Uncle Terence rejoined Walker and Greig Ltd. This year he opened a new chapter in his life by tying the knot with Rita Seneviratne, on 27th December 1947. His beloved wife Rita hailed from Kadugannawa. They were blessed with five children namely Tyronne, Christine, Delrine, Adrian and Rosita.

In 1952, he had the honour of captaining the Bloomfield Sports Club at cricket when the club was on wheels at Campbell Park and had the honour of clinching the much respected and popular Daily News trophy. While continuing to play club cricket Terence Uncle in 1955 started coaching young lads at the Josephian cricketer Johnpulle's coaching school at the government services ground nets situated at Parsons Road and continued at Municipality grounds and finally at Bloomfield grounds.

In 1958, he left walkers and joined Lake House as a cashier. While at Lake House he represented the organization at cricket, soccer and hockey.

He played a vital role in winning some of the important tournaments. After attaining the age of 60 he retired from Lake House. After his retirement he took up coaching on a full time basis due to the demise of the founder Mr. Johnpulle. Thereafter, the School was named “Terry's School of Cricket”. He was ably assisted by Tom Dep, Ben Navarathna and Anthonian, Harry Jayasundara.

This School efficiently served the budding juvenile cricketers. A pittance was levied from the students namely Rs. 5 or Rs. 2/= per month. Some under privileged students were coached free of charge.

He also gave back to his Alma-mater what he achieved as a cricketer by coaching the junior and senior cricketers from 1973 to 1975. The First XI cricket captains during this period were Lalith Perera in 1973, Basil Perera in 1974 and Rohan Wanaguru in 1975. Finally, he had noted in his diary with regret that as the College did not have a Big Match this drawback, had deprived the talented cricketers at College moving forward to be members of the Sri Lankan Cricket Pool and representing the country. At this juncture it is of paramount importance to note that Uncle Terence's mode of transport was his push bicycle which he cherished. Fitness was his forte and it was this aspect that kept him going until he reached the age of 100 not out last year. The OBU and the OBSC felicitated him fittingly on the momentous occasion.

At his centenary celebrations too he was able to move around on his own. In the year 2001 when he had gone to attend a service at the Fatima Church, Maradana he lost his push bicycle and thereafter he opted to travel by public transport. He was a devoted Catholic and commenced his daily work after attending the morning service. Complete faith in God had upheld and protected him during his long sojourn in life.

We thank God for enabling Terence Uncle to complete a contended and a blessed life on this earth. May his soul Rest in Peace.

Angelo Canjemanaden

Herman Steur:

Helping the poor was his guiding principle

Herman Theodorus Steur, a great philanthropist passed away after a brief illness on March 25th 2012. He was laid to rest on April 9th. He was 82. He was born with a twin sister to well to do parents in Holland on April 26th 1930. Herman was a successful entrepreneur in Holland. He arrived in Sri Lanka in 1979 to establish a shrimp exporting company in the Greater Colombo Economic Commission.

One evening in early 1980, a poor fisherman residing in Uswetakeiyawa passed away. Steur bore the funeral expenses. Thereafter, he thought it fit to help the poor and the needy in Sri Lanka rather than investing in his export oriented “Steur Products”. The Rev. Fr. Lucien Dep, the then parish priest of St. Joseph's Church of Pamunugama told Steur that it was more prudent to offer financial assistance to the needy after a proper investigation.

Herman implored his businessmen friends to obtain funds from Holland. The proposed programme was called “Holland-Sri Lanka Family Help Programme (FHP)”. Steur was founder president and Rev. Fr. Lucien Dep was the chairman. Fr. Dep and Herman drew up a constitution to implement this programme efficiently island-wide. At present this programme is funded not only by the Netherlands but also by Belgium and the USA.

The first beneficiary of the programme was N. P. Mary Margret, the widow of the deceased fisherman. Today over 3,000 families and the aged numbering 2,000 have been adopted.

Herman visited many parishes in the country in the early 1980s to form local committees to sustain his FHP. I met him in 1982 when he visited St. James’ Church at Mutwal. Steur addressed the newly elected committee and enlightened us about helping the ‘Poorest of the poor'. I was very impressed by the gentle qualities of this foreigner.

He built the local office at St. Joseph's Church premises in Pamunugama. His scheme offered monthly financial aid to widows, deserted mothers with children under 21 years of age, those over 60 years unmarried or with no children. The scheme has been in operation for the past 32 years.

Herman Steur was honoured with the Sri Lanka Ramya in recognition of his invaluable service to the poor. The Board of Directors felicitated him with a dinner at ‘Villa Palma’ Hendala on May 22nd 1993. The then Archbishop Dr. Nicholas Marcus Fernando, then Auxiliary Bishop, Dr. Oswald Gomis, and Bishop Dr. Raymond Peiris also participated. The Archbishop described Herman as an “Apostle of Christ” who was sent to serve Sri Lanka's poor, aged and feeble destitutes.

Bishop Oswald Gomis described Steur as a ‘Big white man with a large heart for the poor'.

In addition to helping the poorest of the poor financially, FHP provides material for many “Homes for the Aged”, water supply projects, funds for constructing community halls, pre-schools, vocational training centres, libraries and computer projects for poor university students in many parts of Sri Lanka.

In 1994 Steur constructed a home for destitute elders who had no proper shelter.

He named it “Netherlands Welcome Village for Roofless Elders” at Wilagedara, Gonawila. This Home for the Aged was opened by the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike in July 1996. He set up a fund for tsunami victims in 2005 and visited the devastated areas. Fishing gear and other equipment were distributed among the affected fisher folk in Payagala, Maggona and Beruwela. He got damaged boats repaired and also donated new boats. Around 2500 houses were built in the eastern coastal belt for tsunami victims.

Steur had a good rapport with his employees. He was a strict disciplinarian who would not brook any nonsense and would always call a spade a spade. He loved music and was a class pianist.

Those who associated him will never forget his sterling qualities. He enlivened those around him with his charm, compassion and light banter. His demise is a big loss for the poor in our country.

His words still echo in my ears, “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good work, any acts of kindness or any service I can render to any soul of mankind, let me do it now and let me not neglect or defer such deeds for I shall not pass through this world again.”

May the soul of Herman Steur rest in peace and may he be guided by angles to the most holy presence of Lord Jesus Christ!

Bertram Fernando