deaths

Faiz Mohammed Sherani In Sydney on February 9, aged 65.

Mr Sherani was until shortly before his death Fiji’s high commissioner to Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, based in Canberra.

A lawyer by profession, Mr Sherani was warmly praised by Fiji’s Chief Justice Sir Timoci Tuivaga, who described him as “a gentleman to the last”, who had “left behind a memory of a life dedicated to the proper administration of justice and the welfare of the country.”

Sir Timoci added that Mr Sherani’s legal training and ex perience had served him well in his diplomatic role.

Aselemo Fatiaki In Suva on January 18, aged 59.

The director or the Housing and Relief Trust Fund (HART), Mr Fatiaki died of a heart attack after a day of strenuous work following Cyclone Eric.

Because of the extensive damage caused by the cyclone at its peak on January 17, Mr Fatiaki was out checking HART homes early the following mor ning.

He returned home in the afternoon and worked at clear ing debris from his own home in Nailuva Road.

He collapsed shortly after 7 p.m., and died at the Suva Colonial War Memorial Hospi tal later in the evening.

Morris Sterling Warren On Pitcairn Island on Septem ber 5, 1984, aged 78.

Born on Pitcairn, Mr Warren or Mento as he was known spent his whole life on the island, apart from visits to neighboring Oeno and Hender son Islands.

In a tribute published in Pitcairn Miscellany, Irma Christ ian wrote; “Morris was known for his kind nature, his willingness to help, his reliability and his physical strength.

“He was part of the group who almost met with death by starvation on Oeno Island in December 1931. Because of

unfavorable weather, food sup plies ran low, as the group waited their opportunity to re turn home. After being a month on the island, it was decided to risk an attempt to leave. Morris was on the boat Twilight, skip pered by Parkin Christian.

“Unfortunately the boat was in poor condition and while passing through the passage in the reef at Oeno, heavy seas caused her to founder and sink.

Fortunately, two other nearby sailing boats came to the aid of those on Twilight. Morris was no swimmer, yet he managed to survive the incident, still clutching Parkin’s hurricane lantern which he had been holding before Twilight sank.

“On Pitcairn, throughout his life, he was always willing to run errands for anyone and he enjoyed delivering telegrams.

He liked to walk up to the Radio Station during sched time and would busy himself at other times topping up the main generators. He served as Flag man until his death, and had also been the Church Bell Rin ger. Even at the age of 60, he could still climb a coconut tree to knock down a few coconuts for whoever wanted them. One story tells how, in his younger days, he carried a complete bundle of six foot roofing iron on his back, from the Edge to Terry’s place.

“Since his passing, there are many reminders for everyone of the work he did until his death. Things people perhaps took for granted. We are re minded by lights left on late in the Square, by windows left open in the Courthouse, and by other things that he always attended to, that Mento is no longer with us.”

Leslie Raymond Pearson In Sydney on January 16, aged 73.

Les Pearson migrated from Australia to Fiji in 1932. He worked for Burns Philp (SS) Ltd. and the Emperor Gold Mining Company Ltd. at Vatu koula, and managed a number of Fiji tourist resorts with distinc tion.

After about 45 years in the

Islands Fiji, the Cooks and the two Samoas Les retired to Australia, where his widow Mary now lives at 6/50 Shirley Road. Wollstonecraft, 2065.

Palene Hnaloane In Port-Vila on January 27. aged 44.

Born on the island of Mare.

New Caledonia. Palene Hna loane was among the first Kanaks to come to the then New Hebrides in 1963. He was employed as a French teacher.

After independence in 1980, Mr Hnaloane resigned from teaching and worked in private business.

He is remembered by his friends in Port-Vila and on the islands on which he taught as a generous and open person, who had a “big heart’’.

For some years his voice was well known throughout the country for his contribution to Radio Vanuatu’s one-time “Open Heart’’ program.

Ema Daniel In Rarotonga on January 26, aged 39.

The deputy program officer on Radio Cook Islands, Ema Daniel was one of the most popular personalities in the Cook Islands Broadcasting and Newspaper Corporation.

Ema was employed as a technician at the CIBNC in 1974, and later became a radio announcer.

As an announcer, he special ised in country music and sports programs.

Brother Lambert Delehanty In Suva on February 7, aged 82.

New Zealand-born Brother Lambert was the first principal of the Marist Brothers High School established in Suva in 1937.

In 1955 he became the founding director and principal of St. Paul’s College, Auckland, where he remained until 1960 when he returned to Fiji to serve a further term as director and principal of the high school.

In 1963. after a total of 21 years as principal, Brother

Lambert handed over the re sponsibility to another brother, while remaining an active mem ber of the staff.

Paniatua Ngakaara Kora In Rarotonga in January, age unknown.

Mama Pamu. as she was known, was born and educated in Aitutaki. She went to Raro tonga. married and settled in Matavera.

According to her son. Motu.

Pamu’s mother Levigi had Sa moan blood.

Mama Pamu was a strong religious supporter of the Cook Islands Christian Church, and she walked to church even in her old age.

She read the Bible without using reading glasses up until she passed away.

Two of Mama Pamu’s chil dren hold the Kiriparu Mataiapo and Mokare Mataiapo titles under Pa Tepaeru Ariki of Takitumu.

Last year Mama Pama flew to New Zealand where she celebrated her last birthday. But the sad story is that nobody knows how old she was when she died.

Was she 90? 100?

Misael H. Ogo On Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, on De cember 23, in his late 40s.

Ogo began his public service career in 1969 when he was appointed by former Rota council municipal chairman Antonio C. Atalig as a council member. Twice he served as vice-speaker of that body dur ing his eight-year term.

At the inception of the CNMI Government, he was elected to the first Commonwealth legisla ture. During the third legisla ture, he served as vice-speaker as well as chairman of the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare.

His other major accomplish ments included sponsoring of legislation to establish the Northern Marianas College, and the Land Commission.

Governor Pedro P. Tenorio ordered a state funeral for Mis ael H. Ogo.