March 8, 2003

PRITHIVIRAJ MOHANTY (TITO)
North Pointer '63  to '71

Rajesh Poddar writes on March 8th 2003
This is to give you the sad news that our classmate Prithiviraj Mohanty (Tito) passed away yesterday morning due to a massive heart attack which he suffered in the bathroom.

Fr. Van writes on March 10, 2003
Rajesh Poddar has just informed me of the death of Prithiviraj Mohanty on March 8th from a massive heart attack. I have sent through him my condolences to the family and have asked Rajesh to write an obituary for the website. I hope he will do that soon.

P.K. Mahapatra (North Pointer '61 to '71) writes on March 10, 2003
It is with great sorrow that I wish to inform the rest of the NP members that our dear friend and school mate of NP '71 batch- Prithiviraj Mohanty - Age 48 passed away at 8 am on 8th March 2003 at Calcutta. He had gone to Calcutta to see his father who had just recovered from a severe heart attack and he himself succumbed to a massive heart attack in the toilet on the morning of 8th March. He was gone in a flash and when they broke open the door of the toilet they found him dead. Such is life. We have all lost a dear friend. He will be remembered by all the '71 batch and his warm heart and jovial manner will remain with us for as long as we live. Sursum Corda. What can I say. I used to speak to him at least once a week on Sunday and now the phone has gone dead for ever. God bless him.

Thanks for the posting.
I am just catching up on my e-mails as the last few days have been unbelievable.
I am still in shock as I was there a week ago (for my Dad's attack) and had spent a lot of time with Titu which I am grateful for. In fact we even discussed your 25th which he mentioned.
Anyway, he is sorely missed by his wife Tanu, his daughter Priya, our parents and all of the many family, friends and other north pointers who have been sending their condolences.
Prithviraj (Tito) is sorely missed by his wife Tanu, his daughter Priya, his mother, father and me and my family. Funeral services were held in Calcutta and a memorial service in Cuttack where he lived for the past 15 to 20 years. We all remember him fondly as someone who lived life to the fullest with a bright and jovial outlook at all times. Thank you all for the kind thoughts and support offered from the many family members, friends and fellow North Pointers.

Devraj Mohanty
93 Alberta Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Devraj Mohanty (Cat) '72 - younger brother of Prithiviraj (Tito)

Messages from North Pointers and Loreto girls

I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear about Titu's untimely death. He was in school with me from 1964 and then we went on to college together. We developed a deep and long lasting friendship and though we drifted apart after college whenever we met the connection was always there. I knew I had a friend. He introduced me to one of my major loves--Music. He was a solid chap, warm , kind, a great friend. I'll miss you old chap. May your soul rest in peace.
Sudhir Jaggi 1971 batch

My heartfelt condolences to Tito’s family on the tragic news of his sudden death. Being in almost the same year as my naughty batch (’72), I miss much mischief and fun which we all indulged in, and Tito was definitely a part of this at some stage.  Rest in peace my friend.
Lisa Watsa (nee Narayan) LCD, ’72 batch

January 11, 2003

Dara Mody
(N.P. College 1964 to 1968)

October 8, 2001
JACK VAZ (Faculty 1946 - 1987)

One sad bit of news was received on Oct.8^th. Mr. Jack Vaz who taught here from 1946 until 1987 passed away in Bangalore . He suffered his first heart attack at home in Goa but when he revived, his son Mario who is a medical doctor at St. John`s in Bangalore flew him to Bangalore for better treatment. For a couple of days he seemed to be fine. On the 8^th in the evening they decided that the next day they would take an angiogram. After a light supper during which he was in a very joyful mood, his family members went home. But soon they were recalled as he was suffering his second and fatal attack.

                    Many of you would have benefited from his meticulous teaching and correction of homework. He loved North Point and so we were overjoyed when he accepted our invitation last year to return for our millennium alumni reunion in May. During his long and dedicated service in North Point, he taught in nearly all the classes, was for a time Headmaster of the Primary and handled admissions into the lower classes, a most arduous task. He even taught in our Night College which catered for a time to those who had to work every day yet wanted to further their own academic qualifications. He was always guided by what would be best for the school and its true spirit. Once someone tried to bribe him for an admission and he was most upset mainly because the fellow did not understand that North Point was not that kind of school. Its spirit and reputation could not be allowed to be tarnished in this way. He was a man of complete integrity and raised his own family to live with the same high principles. I always looked upon him as one of the great pillars of North Point and his spirit will live on here for generations to come. R.I.P.
Above comments by Fr. Van

September 11, 2001
JUPITER YAMBEM (Student)

New York Times Report on October 27, 2001
Holding On to India

Jupiter Yambem was born and raised on the other side of the world, in the remote state of Manipur in the northeast corner of India. At the age of 21 he came to the United States and promptly took up a career in some of New York City's most famous restaurants, including the Rainbow Room and then Windows on the World, where he worked as a banquet manager. But even as he planted hardy roots here ‹ marrying a woman from Syracuse, settling down in Beacon, N.Y., joining an environmental group dedicated to protecting the Hudson River, becoming friends with Pete Seeger, signing on as assistant coach for his 5-year-old son Santi's soccer team Mr. Yambem, 41, held fast to his Indian past. Retaining his Indian citizenship, he co-founded the North American Manipur Association, a small group of Manipur families that sought to promote and preserve the culture of their homeland over here.

He had two purposes, said his wife, Nancy Yambem. He wanted his son to know something of his heritage " to see the dances and hear the music and taste the food". But he also wanted to construct a bridge, however modest, between two vastly different cultures. The strands of Mr. Yambem's life came together at his memorial service. His friends gathered at Beacon Riverfront Park on the banks of the Hudson River. They had a potluck dinner and Mr. Seeger sang "Turn, Turn, Turn." Later, they released hundreds of small paper boats onto the river, each with a candle inside. Mr. Yambem's ashes were returned to Manipur and scattered over a lake.

October 1992
T.W. SHAKABPA (Student)

TW Shakabpa, NP class of 1959 passed away in October of 1992. TW & his brothers KN Shakabpa 1953, TN Shakabpa 1959 were one of the first students to attend St. Joseph's School from Lhasa, where their father was the protege of the Regent of Tibet. After graduating from George Washington University, TW married Norzin Tsarong Mt. Hermon 1964, and have two sons Jigme Shakabpa & Paljor Shakabpa both North Pointers. TW is remembered for his gregarious personality, sportsmanship and a heck of a boxing champ unrivaled and unbeaten even by the Lebong Army Boxers. Some of his classmates and contemporaries are Arnold Mckenzie, Fr. Van, Maurice Banerjee, Palden Gynatshang, Paljor Dorji, Boya Mohindar, Kamal Meattle & a ton of others. He was actively involved with school affairs founding a private school and director of a movie theatre. A patriot of his country, he comes from a family who has served the Tibetan Government for generations and whose father Tsepon Shakabpa, in his memoir of "Tibet: A Political History" has left an indelible legacy for the Tibetan people in the current face of Tibet's struggle.
Courtesy:  Tibetan Youth Congress