Fr. Joe Srinivasan was born on 19th September 1931 in Tiruchirappalli. His father was Prof. Thomas Srinivasan of the Economics Department of St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchi. Fr. Joe was an alumnus of St. Joseph’s, Tiruchi (secondary and Bachelor’s level), Loyola, Chennai (PG studies), St. Xavier’s College of Education, Palayamkottai (B.Ed.), Boston, Massachusetts (Masters and Ph.D.).
His first assignment, after his ordination in 1965, was to teach in St. Xavier’s College of Education (SXCE), Palayamkottai, from 1971 to 1973. He then became the Principal of the College and served there till 1985. He was also the Rector of St. Xavier’s, Palayamkottai, from 1973 to 1978. As Principal, he was the first one to introduce social work, and he himself used to accompany his B.Ed. students, and work with them in the villages. He was always ready to help the poor students and would arrange jobs in schools for the deserving students. He was a strict disciplinarian, imparted good qualities and moulded thousands of excellent teachers with a high sense of social responsibility.
He was the founder Principal of Pope John Paul II College of Education (a diocesan institution) in Pondicherry from 1987 to 1992. He served also as Principal of Loyola College of Education, Namachi, Sikkim (1994-1995). He worked in Kohima Region (1996- 1998), as well as at St. Paul’s Teachers’ Training Institute, Phesama, and then at St. Joseph’s College, Jakhama.
Coming back from the northeast, he served in several places before being sent to Beschi Illam, Dindigul, in 2016, to begin his real retirement from service. He passed away peacefully on 22nd April 2021. Since he was in his post-COVID recuperation, his funeral was organized following COVID, on the same day, and his ortal remains were interred in Beschi cemetery. R.I.P.
S.M. John Kennedy, SJ
