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| el diablo |
Posted
on 29-Feb-04 06:14 AM
Father Watrin of St. Xavier's School, who was a well-known educationist, passed away at 2:40 pm Sunday at the age of 84. He served in Nepal for 50 years until his demise.
I want to convey my heartfelt sorrow. My condolences goes to his family, friends and St. Xavier's School. It's a great loss to us all!
May his soul rest in peace, Amen!
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| czar |
Posted
on 29-Feb-04 07:39 AM
My condolences to the family and my respects to the departed soul.
I recollect his habit of holding a book in one hand and reaching over his head with the other hand scratch his ear. On hearing him speak Italian or French, I couldn’t tell one from the other at that time, it sparked my interest in languages though I remain a dilettante in that aspect.
His crisp sarcasm often livened up proceedings. “You said you wore a PANT?” brought sheepish grins, not to mention his legendary “pathetically repeating the obvious.”
He was a sportsman par excellence. I doubt many won a tennis match when he was in form. Once, confident as a recent college swim team inductee, I foolishly invited Fr. Watrin to an impromptu race at a pool party. Did he give us a run for our money, and he was in his 60’s then!
He started the Boy Scouts movement in Nepal and I am grateful for the many opportunities it provided me along with shaping my skills and character.
I mourn his passing but celebrate his many gifts of wisdom and learning. It is the close of an era. An era of giants.
Thanks, El Diablo.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 29-Feb-04 08:04 AM
What follows is from a friend:
******
Dear Friends,
I just received an SMS from Fr. Greg regarding the sad news of Fr. Watrin's pasing away today (Sunday) 29 feb 2004 at 2:40 PM. He fell sick yesterday and was admitted to the hospital.
He had been staying at the GAA for the past few weeks, but was not feeling well recently, so the Fathers were planning to shift his residence to Jawalakhel.
The FUNERAL is scheduled for 1:00 pm tomorrow Monday, at the Dhobighat Church.
So, those who are in Kathmandu, please pass this message to other friends as well.
May his soul rest in peace. .. and we are going to miss one Great Teacher, a social worker and a true guardian to so many of us during our school and GAA days
With respect,
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| ashu |
Posted
on 29-Feb-04 08:09 AM
In the name of the Father
Taken from:
http://www.nepalnews.com.np/ntimes/issue169/nepali_society.htm
November 2003
Even those who don’t personally know Father Eugene Watrin will recognise him as the priest on the bicycle on Kathmandu streets. Until last year, there was no slowing down this 82-year-young Jesuit. Rain or shine, day or night, Watrin would be pedaling away on the Tripureswor uphill without getting off.
It’s a long way from Dayton, Ohio, where Watrin was born and raised till he joined the Jesuit order at 19. He knew it meant he could never marry, committing his whole life to the service and severing ties with parents, sisters and younger brother. Though the Vatican later changed the rules, it would be 21 years of living halfway across the globe before Watrin met his family again.
After nine years in India, Watrin was delighted when offered the chance of teaching in Nepal. In 1955, he began as hostel prefect at St Xavier’s Godavari School and taught English language, literature and biology to many boys who are now movers and shakers in the land.
When he became principal in 1962, Watrin secured the property at Tara Mahal in Jawalakhel for primary day students. “You can’t just give an education, it’s more of a cooperative effort between teachers, students and parents,” says Watrin who believes in an all-round education that empasises sports, hiking and community service.
No wonder there was something different about ‘Godavarians’: graduates of St Xavier’s. Almost as soon as the first students finished school, Watrin established the Godavari Alumni Association (GAA) so the boys (and later, girl members) could contribute to society through social service. Worried about his former students having to go abroad to college, Watrin set up St Xavier’s College in Thapathali in 1988.
Last year, Watrin was diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas. His doctor advised return to the US where he was told the disease had progressed too far to operate and chemotherapy was the only recourse. Watrin found the treatment is available here, and that was all the excuse he needed to return to Nepal. Last week, doctors were surprised to find the cancer had all but disappeared and attributed it to Watrin’s spiritual strength and tenacity.
Later this month, Watrin will receive the Gorkha Dakshin Bahu from King Gyanendra for his lifelong service to Nepal. But as one of his students recognises: “Father Watrin does not seek applause, in a place where so much is done for effect.”
His work has not ended, and Watrin says he still has two or three projects he wants to start. Watrin is now back on his bicycle, and asked whether it’s such a good idea, his clear blue eyes widen: “God’s will is my will. It’s kind of my karma to accept what God has put before me.” So, we’ll be seeing more of the good padre negotiating traffic.
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| meethshrestha |
Posted
on 29-Feb-04 08:42 AM
Dear Frns
It was first time I heard from him about the one see the star and other see the dust; it was really a inspiration for me .
It is sad to know about demise of such a great person. I want to convey my heartfelt sorrow. It is a great loss to his family , to our Nepal and to all of us, my condolences
May his soul rest in peace , Amen!
Hempal Shrestha
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| oys_chill |
Posted
on 29-Feb-04 09:57 AM
That is such a sad news indeed!
My interaction with Fr. Watrin was mainly after I.Sc. I had no idea I would get involved with S.A.V and those rides to Jitpur and Tinpiple certainly changed me in lot of ways. He helped us see our own coummunity which we had chose to ignore for so long.
Among many recollections, I can never forget the first time in GAA when I met him and he said in his own unique way "I'm Fr. Watrin" blinking his two eyes chracteristically. My heartfelt condolences to a person who's made such a vast difference in community development in Nepal.
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| Poonte |
Posted
on 29-Feb-04 11:15 AM
A grave and genuine loss, indeed, not only to those who had the opportunity to interact with him in one way or another, but also to thousands of others who benefitted from his great acts of humanitarianism.
May the departed soul rest in peace!
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| WkW |
Posted
on 29-Feb-04 07:39 PM
I would like to express my heartfelt condolence to the family and friends of Late Fr. Watrin. Even though I never knew him personally, I have heard a lot about him. Indeed an honorable man. He devoted most of his life towards social service and to the field of education. I remember when he used to pass by St. Xavier's School once in a while me and my friends used to make a circle around his bike to say hello father or greet him. It's a great loss for all of us.
May his departed soul rest in peace in heaven.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 01-Mar-04 02:49 AM
Inspirational Fr Eugene Watrin leaves behind legacy of generosity
By Shanta Dixit
The Himalayan Times
Kathmandu, February 29,
A meeting of the Fr Eugene L Watrin Scholarship Endowment Fund was scheduled for today at 3pm. I was leaving the office to attend the meet, when the phone rang. The meeting was put off. Fr Watrin had died at 2:40 pm.
Instead of going to the meeting on Sunday afternoon I found myself driving to B&B Hospital to pay my last respects to a man who contributed his whole life to Nepal and inspired many like me.
The last time I met Fr Watrin at a wedding reception, he had bicycled over after having been
on chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer that morning. Fr Watrin, at 83, still bicycled all over the city as he did all his life despite his age, his illness and the increasing pollution and dust on the streets. It was just like the man himself: setting an example by living up to his own high standards. Fr Watrin was a teacher, a confidante, and a person who inspired others.
His legacy for Nepal is as an exemplary educationist, as principal of St Xaviers School and later the founder of St Xavier’s College. Hundreds of Nepali students learnt the beauty of language through his writing classes. It didn’t matter what language one communicates in, he used to say, but one has to use words with care, with precision, with style and a voice that shows one’s passion for life.
Fr Watrin’s other great legacy is the spirit of social service that he imbued in all those around him. In his work at the Godavari Alumni Association in Thamel, he tried to show his
students that learning does not stop after school. One’s responsibility towards one’s community, society and nation continues and all Nepalis have to give back to society what they took from it. Under Fr Watrin, GAA undertook various activities to inspire young Nepali adults, get them interested in community work and help others less privileged. Fr Watrin was a true Jesuit, one who lived up to the rigorous benchmarks for selfless service and faith of his Order.
Sunday’s meeting was to chart a course for the Father Eugene L Watrin Scholarship Endowment Fund which will use interest accrued from an endowment of Rs 12 million to support scholarships for Nepali children in difficult circumstances. Fr Watrin was particularly interested that the support go to girl children because he had seen that if girls are told to study, but are not provided support, it will not work. Nepali girls take up a lot of the work load at home and have no time to study.
It was Fr Watrin’s way not to blame society for discriminating against girls, but in his own small way try to change this practice by giving Nepali children the opportunities they deserve.
Till the very end, Fr Watrin gave what he had to others, but did not want to trouble anyone. Despite his illness, he stayed alone at the GAA apartment managing his affairs, moving around town on errands in his bicycle.
Father Watrin will be remembered by thousands of Nepali students here and abroad to whom he has left behind a gift of compassion, generosity and self-respect as Nepalis. And every time they help someone in need somewhere, it will be because there is a spark in their souls that their teacher left behind.
For contributions to the Fr. Eugene L Watrin Scholarship Endowment Fund please contact Fr. Locke at Ph: 5522219 Shanta Dixit is the Director of Rato Bangala School
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| ashu |
Posted
on 01-Mar-04 02:52 AM
From The Kathmandu Post
Noted educator Fr Watrin passes away
POST REPORT
KATHMANDU, Feb 29 - Father Gene Watrin, who was involved in the education of Nepali students since 1955, passed away this afternoon at B & B Hospital in the capital at 2.40 pm today.
He had been suffering from pancreatic cancer, which was diagnosed a year ago.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Fr Watrin, 82, was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1952 and started his career in Nepal in 1955 as Vice-Principal of St Xavier’s Godavari school.
Fr Watrin, who was the Chairman of St. Xavier’s College, was an accomplished scholar who had two Masters degrees in English Literature and Guidance and Counseling. During his half-century long career as a teacher in Nepal, he taught English, Biology, Mathematics and General Knowledge to his students, who number in the thousands.
Fr Watrin was an active person who in the span of his career became Principal of St Xavier’s Godavari, Director of the Godavari Alumni Association, Chairpersons of the Ashoka Foundation and the Nepal chapter of Habitat for Humanity and a member of the selection committee of the United World Colleges. In addition, he was the founder of Social Action Volunteers - the community development chapter of Godavari Alumni Association.
Dr Saroj Kumar Basnyat, a student of the deceased fondly recalls Fr Watrin’s "utter dedication to make his students the best. His character can best be summed up as honest, diligent, intelligent, understanding and devoted."
Until last year, Fr Watrin could be seen tirelessly cycling around Kathmandu.
The funeral service will be organized by the Nepalese Jesuit Society at the Assumption Church in Dhobighat at 1 pm on Monday.
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| katmandude |
Posted
on 01-Mar-04 07:29 AM
I volunteered in GAA and SAV acitivities periodically and that's how I got to know Fr. Watrin, apart from the few classes he taught us at STX. His contributions to our conutry were immense. He was a kind, caring soul who made difference. My heartfelt condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace. He will always have inspired people like us who got to know him to do something positive for our society and the country in our own small ways.
K'dude
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 01-Mar-04 10:49 AM
I have fond memories of Fr. Watrin from GAA days. I especially remember him observing our drama practices; always with a warm smile and gentle, inquiring eyes. One could not help but notice his easy and graceful mannerisms with which he conducted selfless projects dedicated to the betterment of Nepali youth.
May his soul rest in peace! We will remember him with reverence and sadness!
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 01-Mar-04 10:53 AM
My mom used to say TO ME... "Kaye Kha, nakhaye... you will have the same in your breakfast, lunch AND dinner!!"
The threat was so deadly, I used to eat up all the titey karela ko tarkari!
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 01-Mar-04 10:53 AM
OOOOOOOOOPs!!!!!!!! wrong thread!!!! Mora Kalanki jinxed me!!!! :(
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| KALANKISTHAN |
Posted
on 01-Mar-04 11:28 AM
Hehe... Khuchching!! :P
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| dautari |
Posted
on 02-Mar-04 08:36 AM
May his departed soul rest in peace. He will always live forever in my memories and in my prayers.
I will never forget my GAA days with Fr.Watrin, Fr.Starr and others. Especially the trips to Gonga Bu, and the tea-biscuits afterwards.
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| nischals |
Posted
on 02-Mar-04 09:14 AM
"More than 1,000 people of every social strata, from dignitaries and rural villagers, turned out in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu on Monday for the funeral of the Rev. Eugene Watrin."
Click here as Dayton Daily News Covers more...
http://www.daytondailynews.com/obituary/content/obituary/daily/0302missionobit.html
May His soul rest in Peace.
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| spark |
Posted
on 03-Mar-04 02:06 AM
Fr. Watrin is an exemplery Citizen for Nepal. I pray for the peace of his departed soul.
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