Rest In Peace, Dear Mr. Phillips!
Sad news about our former teacher Vernon Phillips who taught us at the Frank Anthony Public School (FAPS) in Delhi. I heard from his daughter Zoë Restorick that he passed away recently in Ottawa, Canada. “It’s hard to believe that he’s really gone,” she said.
Looking Back!
My FAPS classmates and I remember Mr. Phillips fondly. He taught us Geography in middle school, part of a Social Studies curriculum. He also taught English. I remember him being a wonderful teacher as well as a kind and lovely man! He and his wife Marjorie Texeira (also a FAPS school teacher) moved to Canada.
He was handsome and she was pretty! As impressionable 12- and 13-year-olds, we were excited and dazzled by such a classic romance! Those were the days when we had our noses stuck in Mills and Boon romantic novels!
Fulfilling Career
I understand from Zoë that, after he left FAPS, her father had a long and fulfilling teaching career in Canada. He became vice principal of a school while her mother was the supervisor of several daycare centers for young children.
Zoë posted on FaceBook, “He had the most contagious joie de vivre and made friends everywhere he went. And, as much as he loved people and animals, he loved his food! From Anglo-Indian cuisine to poutine, he loved it all! He loved to laugh, he never stopped learning, and he made us groan with his classic dad jokes!”
Keeping Memories Alive!
Apparently, Mr. Phillips also liked Suji Halwa and Kheer — that’s semolina pudding and rice pudding! I found Zoë just by chance (coincidence, really) while glancing at a FaceBook group, Anglo Indian Kitchen, where I saw a post from her saying that she was trying to keep her Dad’s memory alive by cooking the foods he enjoyed, such as Suji Halwa! She mentioned that he’d recently passed. When I saw the name, I just had to ask: is this the same Vernon Phillips from FAPS in Delhi — and it was!
More sad news! When I wondered what became of her mother, Zoë said “my Mum is still alive but suffers from Alzheimer’s and has been in a home for many years now.”
Thankfully, Zoë also has great memories of her mother whom she recalls as always being “glamorous, well-groomed, and well-dressed… she loved to entertain family and friends and create mouthwatering feasts for us all!”
RIP
One expects that, with the passage of time, our former teachers will pass. Still, it’s sad when it happens. May Zoë and family find comfort in all the special memories! And, Rest in Peace, dear Mr. Phillips!
Ludi Joseph
New York
February 16, 2022
Update from Zoë: “My parents divorced when I was three. They subsequently remarried. My mother is currently known as Marjorie Gordon. Our blended family includes a total of six siblings and 10 grandchildren. Dad was 81 when he died.”
Pics courtesy of Zoë Restorick.
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| Vernon Phillips |
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| Vernon Phillips |
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| Vernon Phillips with grandson, Brennan |
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| Marjorie Texeira |
Shyam Venkatesan, Lancaster, PA, Feb. 17, 2022:
ReplyDeleteHi Ludi,
Sad news indeed! I remember that Mr. Phillips taught us English in the 8th Standard. He had a habit of rising up and down on his toes when he read from the textbook. Brings back happy memories! Thank you for sharing!
Shyam.
Thanks Shyam! I too recall Mr. Phillips rising up and down on his toes! Glad you liked the blog!
DeleteLudi.
Lorna Joseph-Pal, Flushing, NY, Feb. 17, 2022:
ReplyDeleteLudi - I read your blog. It’s very, very good! Vernon taught us in middle school. He left for Canada much later. We met Vernon and Marjorie at the home of a Keralite student who was junior to us at FAPS. They left for Canada after that. We also heard that they got divorced. Glad you could connect with Zoe!
Thanks Lorna! You have a good memory! Happy you liked the blog!
DeleteLudi.
Keith LaPersonne, New Delhi, India, Feb. 17, 2021:
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute!
Thanks Keith! Kind of you to say so and happy you remember him!
DeleteRaghu Rajendran, Chennai, India, Feb. 17, 2021:
ReplyDeleteMay his soul Rest In Peace! Thank you so much for sharing! The text and the pictures are beautiful.
Raghu.
Thank you Raghu. Glad you liked it. Yes, those pictures are so evocative!
DeleteRuth Schmidt, Raleigh, NC, Feb. 17, 2022:
ReplyDeleteLudi - This is so sad! I remember Mr. Phillips. He was very handsome! You have written so well. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you, Ruth. Happy that you remember him. He was an excellent teacher.
DeleteLudi.
Zoë Restorick, Burlington, ONT, Canada, Feb. 17, 2022:
ReplyDeleteThank you all for sharing such sweet memories of my beloved father. He was truly one of a kind and he was so proud to be able to educate the next generation. He had so much faith in young people; he saw them rightly as our future. He imparted so much wisdom and love to me over the years, lessons I will never forget. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers as that is how he will live on forever.
Thank you so much, Zoë! That was beautifully expressed! We were honored to have your Dad as our teacher!
DeleteDeepak Kochhar, New Delhi, India, Feb. 17, 2022:
ReplyDeleteRemember them so well. They were kind, humane and always willing to guide.
Thanks Deepak. You are quite right! He was a lovely man! They both were excellent teachers!
DeleteLudi.
Loved the blog Ludi. I also had a similar teacher Clement Felix sir who taught us English. Passed a few years back.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ramesh! So glad you liked the blog! Sadly, that generation of teachers (like your Clement Felix) are mostly gone!
DeleteHope all is well
Ludi.
Though I never studied in FAPS, from your tribute, I can well imagine your sense of attachment to Mr Philips as also your sense of loss over his demise. I cannot think of many teachers these days who can handle far apart subjects like English and Geography and teach them well too. May you rest in peace, Mr Vernon Philips! This comes from the son of a schoolmaster!
ReplyDeleteVery well said, Kannan! Thank you! By the way, Mr. Phillips also coached the boys in soccer!
DeleteThree cheers for Mr Philips! English and Geography apart, am sure, soccer too would get a leg-up in his heavenly abode!
Delete🤣🤣😂
DeleteChinyere Bun, Fairfax, VA, Feb. 19, 2022:
ReplyDeleteDear Ludi,
I am sorry for the loss of your teacher. May his soul Rest In Peace.
I couldn’t help but smile when you made reference to Mills and Boon! We used to read that in boarding school back in Nigeria. I still have a few at home and read one recently: so many situations that could lead to “Me Too” complaints these days…
Best, Chinyere.
Thanks so much, Chinyere!
DeleteThat was funny about the M&B novels! We were obsessed with them but you’re right — they crossed boundaries that would lead to lawsuits in the present time!