Sem lost one of its distinguished alumni on 13th September, 2009. Mr. Noel Da Lima Leitao passed out of Sem in 1974 after completing his ISc. He was an expert football commentator and administrator. Following is an excerpt from a news item regarding the untimely demise :
Following are the reactions of some SEMians :Noted football commentator Noel da Lima Leitao was found dead earlier today in his hotel room in Kolkata, only a day after being a commentator in the final of the 114th IFA Shield.According to information received by IndianFootball.Com, Noel was found dead in his hotel room at the Hyatt Regency in Kolkata after having sustained a massive heart attack overnight. The hotel informed the Bidhannagar Police station and they have asked for a post-mortem examination to be conducted to confirm the reason behind Noel's death.
Noel was only 51 years old and had been in Kolkata along with Gautam Bhimani as a commentator for ESPN for the semi-finals and final of the recently concluded IFA Shield.
Noel had been a part of the Indian football scene as a TV expert since the days of Star Sports in 1996 and had been closely involved with Vasco Sports Club in many different positions and roles over the years.
Noel was outspoken and hard hitting with his views regarding Indian football but some would also say he was biased in his opinion when it came to Vasco and Goan football. However, no one will surely doubt that he was a knowledgeable person when it came to Indian football.
Noel's beloved Vasco SC were supposed to take on Churchill Brothers SC in a Goa Pro League match today but the game was called off as a mark of respect.
Fellow SEMians, it is with deep sorrow that the ISC class of 1974 wishes to inform you that our dear classmate, Noel da Lima Leitao, passed away suddenly in Kolkata (nee Calcutta) on September 13, 2009 whilst on an ESPN football commentating assignment.Preliminary details are as follows: http://www.indianfo otball.com/ en/news/articleI d/1665
Noel be sorely missed and fondly remembered by all of us.
Sincerely ... Victor Figueiredo (ISC '74)
Dear All,
This morning, I read the terrible news that an alumnus, Noel da Lima Leitao passed away in a Kolkata hotel on Sunday.
Noel was from the ISC (Class 11) batch of 1974 (Mark Sen, Carl Keelor, Louis D'Souza, Nariman Gandhi)- I cannot remember which house he was captain / vice captain of - I think it was either Nehru or Pant. There will be a number of people on this group who remember him well as an all rounder - including his performance in "The long, the short and the tall". His brother Eric was a couple of years junior.
On Saturday I was flipping channels when I heard his voice covering the IFA Shield final. The next day, he was gone!
Our condolences go out to the family!
Regards,
Anil Pathak
ICSE 78
we LOST our Batchmate (Class of 1974) NOEL da LIMA LEITAO (DON as he was affectionately called by us ) ..
for those of you who remember him.... he was a true SEMITE.. always had time for everyone, always concerned,always there to help in case anyone had a problem... a GREAT and WARM HEARTED person..
WE WILL TRULY MISS HIM VERY MUCH...
all of us from Batch of 1974...
Dear All,
With a heavy heart, this is to inform that Noel da Lima Leitao ( SC 74) sudden untimely demise has come as a shock to all of us.
Today onwards we will find that we have a friend missing for the rest
of our lives, a senior we grew up with, a personality we looked up to
and a gentleman who was always there to help.
Noel Da Lima Leitao went on to become a stalwart in the world of Indian
Football as a visionary who always dreamt about a brighter future for
the game, an expert commentator at the highest level with ESPN Star and
an administrator- for his beloved Vasco Sports Club, whom I am now
associated with. Noel has seen this club grow and has given selflessly
to the Club and football. One of the main sponsors of the Club, he
donated generously on a monthly basis, year after year.
A highly respected individual in all circles, be it social and
professional, Noel will always be admired, loved and held in the
highest of esteems to all those who have known him and have heard of
him.
SEM has lost one of its brightest alumni and will be truly missed by all of us.
The sad part of life is not that it has to end, but only that you dont
know when. May his soul rest in peace and his family find the strength
and courage they will need for the times ahead.
For the Semians who have not known him, plse revert to www.indianfootball. com/ Vasco Sports Club on Facebook.
Alok Shah Sem 78
Too young to move on, sorry to hear that.
I remember, Noel vividly in school.
I did not even realize Noel was a soccer celebrity and commentator.
I remember him and Nariman Gandhi standing up to Mark Sen when Mark decided to get heavy handed on some frachaas for taking their time in getting to the study room in the morning.
Rajat
------------ --------- --
Rajat Bhatnagar
ICSE-1975
For those interested, here is a link to the last commentary that he wrote for ESPNStar just before his death --> http://www.espnstar .com/home/ news/detail/ item321636/
There have also been a number of tributes to him on the IFA website:
- From Goa FA Secretary Savio Messias --> http://www.indianfo otball.com/ en/news/articleI d/1670
- From others --> http://www.indianfo otball.com/ en/news/articleI d/1666
Sincerely ... Victor Figueiredo (ISC '74)
He will be deeply missed by the alumni of SEM. May God give his family the fortitude to bear with the loss. May his soul rest in peace.
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