Memories of a loving father

I write these lines with profound sadness for my dear father Stanislaus Thimothy (Sonny) Ockersz, who was a well-known personality in Batticaloa, who passed away on April 27, 2018, aged 87. My sister, brother and I who live in Colombo visited him last year during the Avurudu holidays and he was in good cheer even cracking jokes with his grandchildren but a few days after we returned he was no more. He seemed to have had a peaceful death.

My father was the fourth of a family of five of whom two were priests. His elder brother, late Rev. Fr. Nobert Ockersz served as a Parish Priest in Batticaloa and Trincomalee and his younger brother, late Rev. Fr. Rex Ockersz, was a Jesuit priest.

My father studied at St. Michael’s College Batticaloa. At school he was a star athlete taking part in 100 metres, 200 metres and long jump. After completing his HSC he had joined the then Ceylon Civil Service and served in Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee. After getting through the Sri Lanka Administrative Service examination he was appointed as the Assistant Commissioner, Co- operative Development and before retirement he was a Commissioner, Co- operative Development for the Eastern Province working in Trincomalee. After his retirement he worked as a Director at EHED Batticaloa and at NECDO, another NGO in Batticaloa. My father was a Rotarian and a past president of the Rotary Club of Batticaloa, and involved himself in many social service activities. He was also a past president of the Batticaloa Burgher Union. He was a member of the Provincial Public Service Commission, Eastern Province until his death.

Bradley Ockersz