Circular No 648

Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School, Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Caracas, 5 of April 2014 No. 648

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Dear Friends,

The second part of REUNION AGENDA AND EXCHANGES - 22 March

And, sad news: David Basanta has died.

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Father Harold Imamshah

Mar 28

BASANTA, David, of 3A Basanta Trace, St John's Road, St. Augustine died on Monday 24th March, 2014.

Son of the late Felix Basanta and Annie Mc Cabe Basanta.

Son in Law of the late Freddy and Viloet Almandoz. Husband of Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Basanta. Father of Miguel, Andres and Angelique. Father in Law of Patricia, Ann Marie Carol and Darell Quiyou. Grandfather of Luke, Leyyah, Lorenzo and Lee Andrew Basanta (Florida). Brother of Victor Basanta, Phillip Basanta (dec) and Carlotta Walters (dec). Brother in Law of John Almandoz (dec), Ronnie Walters (dec), Noot and Dana Basanta, Michael and Carmen Almandoz, Geoffery, Anjanie and Tony Almandoz, Margret De Silva (dec), Randolph and Jenifer De Silva and Coral Almandoz. Uncle of the Basanta, Walters, Almandoz, and De Silva families. Cousin of Louie Basanta, Penny, Anton and Robert Basanta, Robert and Judy Abdulla and family, Rosemary Gouvia Mcleod and family and the Archer family. Funeral Mass for the late David Basanta will take place at 9:00am on Saturday 29th March, 2014 at The Abbey Church, Mt. St Benedict followed by a private cremation. No flowers by request. A collection will be taken up for the Abbey Church.

Humbly,

Fr. Harold,

Servant of Mary for Jesus

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On Mar 25, 2014 7:07 PM,

"Glen Mckoy" <mckoy43glen@hotmail.com> wrote:

My Dear Sirs,

Thank you for this notice;

I hope all have been informed.  

I am very sad to read this.  

I knew Mr. Basanta only as a master, he was always a hard one to understand, he demanded discipline at all times and got it.  

He taught very well but always serious. 

He was hard on the Venezuelan boys.  

It was said he was an Old Mount Boy, however no other Mount boys speak of him during their time. 

This I find strange. 

He was the best Spanish teacher we ever had.    

Up to two days ago, I was still sending him emails.  

I will stop now.

May our Brother & Teacher finally find peace from this world, may God Bless his Soul.

As the Eagles flies over Mount Tabor - 

We say our last farewell -  Adios –

To Our Spanish Professor, Sir David Basanta.

Pax & Virtue. MSB. 

Glen McKoy.

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Subject: Passing of David Basanta. RIP

From: nigelboos@yahoo.ca

Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 12:59:27 -0400

Thanks for including me, Don.

Bernard, thanks also for keeping us up to date.

I have a question:

Was David an Old Boy of MSB or was he "merely" a teacher.

(Of course, this "merely" is being rather sarcastic, because anyone who was "merely" a teacher at MSB had to be rather brain-dead or a sucker for punishment from the boys).

The teachers had to be brave, resolute and strong individuals to be able to face each new day's challenges with a grin and with the surety / self confidence that comes from understanding and loving one's pupils. 

So there's the question.

Any answers?

Nigel

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On 2014-03-25, at 8:35 AM, Bernard Tappin wrote:

David leaves to mourn his wife Elizabeth, two sons and a daughter.

Their address is 6 Springlands Ave, Valsayn.

Angelique's e-mail address is Angelique Quiyou <abquiyou@gmail.com>.

Too early for funeral arrangements, one son lives in Newfoundland and is arriving in Trinidad on Thursday.

Will keep you informed.

Sincerely,

Bernard

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Nigel Boos

Mar 26

Joe,

Thank you for this fine letter of condolence to Mrs. Basanta on behalf of the ASAA.

I approve entirely of it, and I commend you for your leadership in this matter.

Regards.

Nigel

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On 2014-03-26, at 10:27 AM, 

joe@pestmastertrinidad.com wrote:

Dear Mrs. Basanta,

I would like to take this opportunity to express the condolences of the Abbey School Alumni Association and my own at your husband's passing.

He was one of my most important high school teachers, in that the seriousness and energy with which he approached his subject and high sense of dedication demanded a lot from the majority of us and drew forth talent and ability which few of us believed actually we had the potential for.

I remember his rendering of Gilbert's A Pattern of Islands; Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness; Collins' The Moonstone; Shakespeare's Henry V, after the landing at Calais before the Battle of Agincourt "If we are mark'd to die, we are now To do our country loss; and if to live, the fewer men, the greater share of honour .....

This is the Eve of St. Crispin's Day" and his numerous exacting drills, all delivered with a kind of austere seriousness which brooked no nonsense.

He was as fair as a judge of Israel: he curried no favours and gave everyone his due, based on merit only. 

For a boy growing up with an absent father and a tendency to the misguided it was exactly the medicine that the doctor ordered and I am eternally grateful to his memory. 

Many of the ills of contemporary Trinbagonian society would be better served by teachers like David Basanta rather than many of the newfangled, excessively costly approaches requiring all kind of exotic experts so tirelessly promoted (especially by those in governance) these days. 

May the souls of the faithfully departed thru the mercy of God rest in peace Amen!

David Basanta R.I.P.

Your servant,

The Abbey School Alumni Association

Joseph Berment-McDowald

President

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The second part of REUNION AGENDA AND EXCHANGES - 22 March

From: idmitch@anguillanet.com

Subject: Reunion 2014

Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 14:18:45 -0400

Gentlemen,

You may have heard by now that Fr Abbot is not able to facilitate our plans for the Reunion, despite a very humble and polite request from Fr Harold. 

We must remember that he was neither a student nor a teacher at the school. 

It is therefore disappointing but not surprising that he appears distant. 

However, we would still like to invite him and the Monks to participate in our events. 

We still plan to push on with our Reunion, and the visit to the school buildings, which does not require his permission. 

We still plan a reunion T-shirt, but it will not have the School Crest (which is the Abbey Crest, and under his control). 

It will merely have the words, “Abbey School, Mt St Benedict”.

It is a pity, really. 

But it is not fatal.

Below is the latest plan for the four-day Reunion.  It is not the final plan, by any means.  It includes the proposed list of activities as of 14 of March.

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REUNION 2014 – NOTES FOR CONFERENCE ORGANISER

ABBEY SCHOOL GRAND REUNION 2014 – October 9-12, 2014

Accommodation and Activities – Updated as of 14 March 2014

1. Accommodation to be explored for availability and cost: (Coordinated by Event Organiser, assisted by Organising Committee)

(a) St John Vianny Seminary;                                   (Fr Harold)

(b) Mt St Benedict Monastery Retreat House;           (Fr Harold)

(c) Pax Guest House;                                              (Fr Harold)

(d) Hilton Hotel with Conference Centre;

(e) Holiday Inn Express, close to the airport

(f) Regency Star opposite the airport      (Chandra Teelucksingh)

(g) Kapok Hotel

(h) . . .

2. Possible activities to be checked for cost and feasibility. (Coordinated by Event Organiser, assisted by Organising Committee)

(a) Guided tour of the Abbey School;      (Organising Committee)

(b) Climb to White Stones;                     (Organising Committee)

(c) Picnic at Mayaro Beach;                   (Organising Committee)

(d) Lunch together;                                (Organising Committee)

(e) Reunion Luncheon;                           (Event Organiser)

(g) Sunday Mass at the Abbey               (Organising Committee)

(h) Preparation of Souvenir Video           (Cliff Seedansingh)

(i) Michael Howard’s trip down the Islands for the Class of 1960                                                                               (Michael Howard)

(j) Printing of banners, tickets, arranging for rental of any tables, chairs, as needed                                                (Organising Committee)

(k) . . .

3. Actual Activities as Planned: (Coordinated by Event Organiser, assisted by Organising Committee)

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Wednesday:      Arrivals       (Coordinated by the Event Organiser, assisted by the Organising Committee, possibly involving a greeting desk at the airport)

[Visitors possibly to make own arrangement for transportation to their chosen accommodation]

[Special rates to be arranged with the St John Vianney Seminary, the Monastery Retreat House, the Pax Guest House, the Regency Star Hotel, or the Kapok Hotel if necessary.]

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Thursday: Guided Tour of the School Premises     (Organising Committee)

Self-funded Picnic Lunch on the Grounds of the Refectory      (Organising Committee)

Hike up White Stones  (Organising Committee)

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Friday: Self –funded Day at Maracas Bay for those who wish    (Organising Committee)

Transportation from central location               (Organising Committee)

Food Stalls at Beach for purchase of food      (Organising Committee)

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Saturday: Miscellaneous ad-hoc events, including:

Michael Howard’s Boat Trip                    (Michael Howard)

Visit to Zoo                                           (Organising Committee)

Walking Port of Spain for visitors            (Organising Committee)

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Sunday: Mass at the Abbey in the morning     (Fr Harold and the Organising Committee)

Grand Reunion Dinner (at Queen’s Park Oval) in the evening     (Event Organiser, assisted by the Organising Committee)

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Monday: Depart

[Note: Visitors possibly to make their own arrangements]

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Ladislao Kertesz at kertesz11@yahoo.com,

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Photos:

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