Fr. Peter Raj Chinnappan, the esteemed companion, friend and well-wisher of all, who made the lives of a few thousands academically bright, breathed his last at 4.00 p.m. on 28th December 2022, in Kauvery hospital, Chennai.
As Principal of Andhra Loyola College, Vijayawada and of Loyola Academy, Secunderabad, he got NAAC Accreditation and the special UGC Recognition as ‘a college with potency for Excellence’ for ALC. Being in an aided post, he served the college for about twenty years in different roles as a Lecturer in English in P.G. Department, Warden, Director of the Juniors at Sanjeevan Hostel and as Principal till retirement. He also served for two years in the Common Juniorate in Thiruvananthapuram. He was called to serve as secretary at POSA’s Curia, Delhi, for seven years, and at the General’s Curia, Rome, for another seven years.
Every gathering of Jesuits or of others, looked forward to his witty anecdotes, hilarious jokes and stories, with which he, as Master of Ceremonies, interspersed at every interlude. On several evenings he regaled us, his companions, at the key-board, with great spontaneity and rhythm.
Blessed he was to have had almost a dictionary in his brainy head – be it for spelling, accent, rhyme, phonetics, idiom, usage or meaning. His articulation in teaching, his speeches at high level meetings, and his write-ups in magazines, proved his mastery of the English language. He was admired for his diction everywhere.
He was modest, silent mostly, away from the centre stage of honour, yet was very humorous, with sparks of wisdom in any company. A man of few words, he had great appeal to the young scholastics in Vijayawada for counseling. A poor man with fewer needs, he never looked for much convenience, leave alone comforts and luxuries! An exemplary Jesuit he was!
Rest in the Lord, dear gentle soul!
P.J. Sandanasamy, SJ
