CONDOLENCE MEET IN KUWAIT FOR MAGICIAN LEO

CONDOLENCE MEET IN KUWAIT FOR MAGICIAN LEO.

On Tuesday, 21st of this month, in Kuwait City, some of the relatives, friends and well wishers of the late Magician Leo Fernandes gathered together to condole the death of Magician Leo who died on 7th of this month in Bombay. Magician Leo Fernandes was a long timer in Kuwait working over two decades for the prestigious organization M/s Yousuf Ahmed Alghanim & Sons where till his voluntary riterement 5 years back enjoyed highest respect not only from his immediate management but also of all his colleagues. A very humble man by nature, before coming to Kuwait, Leo also worked for a short period in Bombay and then migrated to Saudi Arabia from where finally he landed in Kuwait. The greatness of Magician Leo concentrated mainly on his kindness, softness and high moral discipline. He never knew to fight with others nor argue aggressively with his colleagues. Always at receiving end he would do Bom Samaritan’s job silently without making a big show of himself.

My real contact with him started about 24 years back when we at Kuwait Konknni Kendr organized our Cultural Show at Hotel Meridien free of charge for all the invitees. This was the first time in our history that Konkani Show/Programme was organized in the 5 Star Hotel in Kuwait. During this programme Leo performed his Magic Show without charging us any fils, because he was deeply convinced that whatever activities we are doing we do it for the good cause. Leo loved Goa and Goan causes, As a supporter of Goan causes, he loved Goan Mandos and Goan Tiatros and always patronized these programmes. When visiting Tiatrists stayed with me he always supported them and showered love and affection on them since Leo also stayed with me for some time. He was so loving towards visiting tiatrists that he even gifted some of them with gold pins and coins as souvenirs and once even shared with Felcy and Prince Jacob some of his Magic secrets.

During the period of post liberation of Kuwait till the fall of Saddam Hussein, we under Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Centre were organsing meetings at Hotel Plaza every 26th of February in support of the freedom of Kuwait’s POW’s. During these meetings and prior to the start of these meetings he was always assisting me in overseeing the Hall arrangements and even in the Hall he was very helpful to me. He had lot of acquaintances in the Kuwaiti families including Royal family because of his magic show skills where he used to perform. He used to perform in top Kuwaiti houses and top 5 Star Hotels. Besides locals, he had good contacts with all the nationalities amongst whom he used to perform his magic shows.

He was a good sportsman during his scholastic years in Bombay at School as well as College levels. He was regularly attending our soccer games at Sour Grounds on every Friday. A regular Church goer, he was very faithful to his religion Christianity and denomination Catholicism. He loved reading and used to read a lot thru books and newspapers. A highly respected man in our society, he was a very sociable person.

During the condolence meeting, all the speakers, namely Elvino Rodrigues who was his colleague at Alghanims, Mario Rebello who is his relative and knows him personally from close angles showered abundant praises on Leo the Magician. The others who spoke during the meet were Agnelo and Evaristo also close relatives of Leo and with tears in their eyes they made all the attendees also to shed tears. Trevis Rodrigues also spoke and expressed his personal experience he had with Leo when he was young. In fact Leo loved children too much and he always had soft corner for children.

Mario Rebello conducted a small prayer before the start of the meeting and while concluding everybody sang a religous song “Moje Mae Taim Vetolom”. A. Veronica Fernandes, compeered the proceedings and while doing so he described Leo and his good work in its totality.

Before the end of the meet, Mario Rebello and A. Veronica Fernandes in a telephone conversation to Bernie, Leo’s wife, on behalf of those who attended this meet conveyed deepest sympathies to her and both the daughters of Leo. May God Give Eternal Rest To the Soul of Magician Leo.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

ON LEO MAGICIAN.

From: Danny Rocha

Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 4:18 AM

To: goa.kranti@gmail.com

"Ex Kuwait Goan Leo Magician.":

Well, what can one say? Of all the people it is one's privilege to have known, Leo certainly ranks right up there. Who can forget the "hypnotism" sessions with Franco, Frankie, Eugene, Mark, Steven, Vincent and the gang, in the little "gully" below Shilpalaya? Or the trips to Panjim and Verna, Goa (Rebellos) to see his sister get married and the many other good times at Holy Family School and church? Certainly Mahakali and Kuwait will not ever be the same.

Our prayers and condolences go out to Bernie, Leona and Linda. Bernie, I will always remember Leo as the kindest of them all from 9th standard and after, when we (Steven, Queenie and I) were new to the school.

We have offered a mass on Nov 25 at our local church here in Sarnia. I'm sure Leo will be learning new tricks up there, where he belongs.

Christine, Norman, Vanessa, Mark and Brian Sarnia,
Ontario, Canada.