Father Todd Tribute
November 30, 1921 - December 4, 2017
Rev. Fr. John Baptist Todd, OFM, formerly of Mansfield Street, Saddar, Karachi. Baptised John George Todd, he assumed the name John Baptist at his ordination to the priesthood.
Son of the late John George and Philomena (Francis) Todd, brother of the late Anne (John Saville), the late Alexander (Hyacinth James), the late Jesse (John Saville) and the late Oswald (Olga Nunes) was called to his eternal home on Monday, December 4, 2017 just four days after celebrating his 96th Birthday.
Priest, Teacher, Vice Principal, Principal, Mentor, Friend and an awesome trumpeter and musician.
He is loved, celebrated, cherished, mourned and survived by his many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, great grandnieces and great grandnephews, in Pakistan, Germany and Canada.
The Saville and Todd Families thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Holy Family Hospital, Fr. Yusuf Bagh, OFM, Brother Clifford Noronha, Fr. Todd's Colleagues, all those who visited him and who have sent and continue to send messages of condolences.
The Funeral Mass was celebrated at 3:00 PM
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
At
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Karachi.
May he rest in eternal peace.
Click here for the Notice as it appears in Dawn Newspaper in Karachi, Pakistan
Christians, Hindus and Muslims last farewell to Fr. Todd - Agenzia Fides
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My Great Uncle came to Canada in 1997 and I had the honour of meeting him. He was extremely personable and sweet. He even said Mass at our house. He was very thoughtful and would often ask about how I was doing over the years. I talked to him last Christmas over the phone and he was in great spirits. My own uncle had the opportunity to visit him a couple years ago and told me about Fr. Todd's sharp intellect and wit. I will miss him and wish I could have spent more time with him.
Thank you for your the love and kindness! We will miss you Uncle George!
Love,
Kimberly Todd
Canada
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Dear Loving Uncle, we really had such little time, tho’ that’s not how it feels today,
In 2012, I was travelling the Middle East, tho' still too short, we found, and enjoyed, such joyous times,
And luckily, we found such fine food, including Karachi’s best mangoes!You told old stories, spoke of compassion; talked of kindness, love, and family,
Memories shared, and so much more, I’ll hold dear to heart, now and forevermore;Never quick to rise to anger, ever graceful, you stood so tall,
A difficult task to emulate, tho’ I will try, admiringly, ‘till life never-ending;Galavanting about Karachi, love followed you everywhere,
We visited a parish, and you revered by all who were there,Memories, present and past, to remember fondly, today and for always;
I’d wondered were you in good hands, and saw you as just a little spoiled,And, thus, good thanks we owe to Shahbaz for goodness knows what all,
You were sick lately, and still worse later on, persevering fiercely, staring death in the face,
I’d hoped to make one last visit, but regrettably, I had failed,
Thankfully, family arrived to accompany and comfort you until the very end;I pray to be like you and, if on the golden path, perhaps I'll even succeed,
I hope only I live as long a life, no need or want, only health and happiness;Tho' if either compassion, love or adoration, just one alone could have saved you,
Who knows how long you’d have lived, not dying so early;So Uncle, thanks truly for the small, little wonders, the miracles and the prayers;
I hope we shared just enough time, affection and companionship for a lifetime;
and, I will hold the bonds we made, lovingly, life everlasting, Amen.“Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived as wisely.” - Buddha
Go peacefully to Our Lord in Heaven, join your family, my Dad, and my Mum and the others.
… In Loving Memory —- Uncle George Todd — Nov. 30, 1921 to December 4, 2017Osborne Todd
Canada_____________________________________________
I was at St Bonaventure’s High School in Hyderabad when Father Todd was the vice principal there and Father Fulgen was the principal. I studied there from 1959 to 1962 in the lower grades. I remember his surprise inspections of the class rooms. We would see him looking through the window to make sure work was being done and no mischief was being carried out. He wore rubber-soled shoes so the surprise element was always there. But he wore some type of perfume and that would give us a hint that he was coming.
In 1962, my father, who was a superintending engineer with WAPDA, was transferred to Sukkur. Coincidentally, Father Todd was transferred to Sukkur at roughly the same time. So I joined St. Mary’s High School and discovered that Father Todd was the principal. I stayed there until 1965 and completed my sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
I remember him as being a strict disciplinarian but a kind and polite man. I remember he and a couple of other priests showed up at a picnic unannounced that the cub scouts were having on an island in the Indus River. They sat down and had lunch with us. We were so pleased to see them.
Then there was the day when news reached us that JFK had been shot. We were in the recess break and a few of us got totally absorbed in what would happen next. We did not realize that the bell had rung and classes had resumed. Father Todd spotted us on one of his rounds and called out: “Ahmad, you and your friends need to get back to your class.”
I learned a lot from Father Todd without ever taking a single class from him (he taught the 9th grade and higher). He had a huge impact on my life. And he was, without a doubt, a larger than life figure.
Ahmad Faruqui, Ph.D.
Principal
The Brattle Group
San Francisco, CA. USA
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Dear Allan,
Condolences to you and all family members.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to see Fr. Todd the last time on 22nd October, 2017, in the morning, my kids also wanted to meet him but visitors were not allowed, as per instructions he needed rest. We had a short chat and I was lucky that he even blessed me. We spoke about his health and he was in good spirits and we also talked about other students whom he remembered from my batch. Finally I took a selfie with him and parted with his blessings.
Fr. Todd shall be remembered by me in many ways, but the one thing that will stand out was the discipline he instilled in many and I am one of those, Father Todd, you will always be missed. May your soul rest in eternal peace. Amen
Layon Ivan Patrick Lobo | Director |PiPakistan (Pvt.) Ltd.
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I Knew You Were Going
We are not human beings seeking a Spiritual existence, but Spiritual beings seeking a human experience, and whilst many others mourn your earthly loss; I celebrate heaven's gain.
Rest in peace now for that is something you have most definitely earned and I am sure you will most certainly enjoy amidst more serene company.
My gratitude for you unrelenting passion and dedication to a cause that was more important than yourself. If there is one thing I will remember about you was your visage yet purposeful gait as you paced your way into the corridors of our subconstious minds and hearts.
Back in those platinum days at old faithful St. Patrick's High School, you were always pulling me out of line for my indisciplines. I guess you weren't asking me to leave the line for my indisciplines; you were just urging me to join a different line; a different beat; A Line of Disciplines!
With my fondest memories of the past.
Simcerely, Your Student
Roy Pereira
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Fr. J. B. Todd Celebrates A Milestone!
On November 30, 2015, my uncle Rev. Fr. J.B. Todd, OFM, celebrated his 94th birthday!
In his 60+ years in education as priest, teacher, vice-principal, principal and band leader, he has touched many thousands of lives and I thought a fitting tribute to him would be a "chalkboard" where all of his students and those whose lives he touched, could share a story or two about him.
Everywhere I go people tell me how strict my uncle was. I assure them he was just as strict with us, my siblings and our cousins. Yes, he was strict. And he was fair, too. He still is.
I invite you to please write a few lines if you wish and send them to me. Send photographs too. Please identify the city and country you are writing from.
Your stories will appear here on this web site.
So come back often.Please promote this link on FaceBook, Twitter and any other social media channels available to you. And pass it to on to family and friends.
Of course, in order to keep this free of spam, I will be moderating this site.
Please Send Your Comments and Stories To: allantodd@remax.net
Thank you.
Allan Todd
Toronto, Canada_____________________________________________
The Students of 1973 Group of St. Bonaventure's, Hyderabad celebrated Fr. Todd's 94th Birthday at the Karachi Gymkhana on Monday, November 30, 2015. About 60 students attended.
Bertram deSouza
Principal, St. Bonaventure's High School, Hyderabad, Pakistan
Link to an article in Karachi's Dawn Morning Newspaper, Tuesday December 1, 2015
Fr. John Baptist Todd was born in Karachi on 30 November 1921. His baptismal name was George. He had four siblings - two brothers and two sisters. He studied at St. Patrick’s High School. After he passed his Matriculation examination from the University of Bombay (there being no university at that time in Sind), he decided to join the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor and entered the Portiuncula Friary and took the name John Baptist. This was located on the outer fringes of Karachi, adjacent to a piggery farm started by Franz Paul de Souza, later purchased by the Vellozo Family.
After he was ordained a priest, one of his first assignments was to be a teacher in St. Patrick’s High School. At about that time, the University of Karachi announced that school teachers would be allowed to study privately for the B. A. and M.A. university degrees; Fr. Todd took this opportunity and passed his B.A. examination whilst also teaching.
He was strict in maintaining discipline - one of the hallmarks of a good teacher, but he was also kind. The Principal, Fr. Stephen Raymond, appointed him in addition, to take charge of the school band. The band soon established a high reputation in Karachi, and was often called upon to perform at church and city events.
At that time the Archdiocese of Karachi, which was created in 1948 by the Holy See after the Partition, comprised the whole of Sind and Baluchistan provinces. The Archbishop at the time was Alcuin van Miltenberg o.f.m. In 1958 the Holy See decided to bifurcate the diocese into the Archdiocese of Karachi under the charge of secular Clergy, and the Diocese of Hyderabad consisting of the rest of Sind and Baluchistan provinces, under the Order of Friars Minor. As Fr. Todd was a Franciscan he went to work in the Diocese of Hyderabad.
For the next twenty years, Fr. Todd served that diocese in several cities of Sind and Baluchistan. His first appointment there was as Vice-Principal of St. Bonaventure’s High School in Hyderabad. He stressed upon excellence in academic performance and on discipline. His Superior recognizing his talent, promoted him to be its Principal. He served in that city for 20 years, but in between he was assigned for a short period, to be Principal of St. Mary’s High School, Sukkur.
His last assignment in the Hyderabad Diocese was as Principal of St. Michael’s Grammar School, Quetta. It was while he was in Quetta, that he survived an assassination attempt. He was then brought to Karachi where he recuperated, and was later appointed Assistant Parish Priest of St. Anthony’s Church.
In January 1982 Fr. Todd was called upon by Bishop Anthony Lobo to be Vice-Principal of St. Patrick’s High School, Karachi. He was also given charge of the school band and he infused new life into it. In 1987 he was seconded to St. Mary’s High School, Sukkur, for a year, to fill a temporary vacancy as Principal and returned to St. Patrick’s High School.
In 1993 he was appointed Principal of St. Patrick’s Technical School (which till then had been under the La Salle Brothers) a post he held for three years. On relinquishing that post he returned to his former post as Vice-Principal of St. Patrick’s High School, where he served till his retirement in 2005.
Fr. Todd was a natural teacher and administrator. He demanded good performance in studies and instilled good discipline, but was never harsh. He also strove to inculcate moral values in his students. Among his students have been several alumni who have risen to high positions in government, industry and business. Notable were, Jam Sadiq Ali (Chief Minister of Sindh Province), and General Pervaiz Musharraf (Chief of Army Staff and President of Pakistan) who during his visit to St. Patrick’s High School in February 2000, recalled his school day's experiences and the values that Fr. Todd had instilled in him.
Jean and I wish you Fr. Todd, a Very Happy Birthday on the 30th of November, and good health.
Oswin Mascarenhas
Irving, TX, U.S.A.
A very Happy Birthday Father and may God bless you always and grant you continued good health, love, happiness, safety and peace. A very special prayer is being said for you today.
All the best.
Sincerely,
The late Hilary Coutinho's wife, Edna and family.
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Dearest Uncle, Congratulations & Celebrations from the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Arabian Seas as your family celebrate YOU the "patriarch" of the Todd-Saville-Slark clan on your 94th Birthday!
Cheers, good health, love & prayers,
Bob, Joy, Karyn-Joy, Albert & Josie.
Canada_____________________________________________
It was a great day when my cousin, Fr. Todd decided to join St. Patrick's High School and I had the opportunity and privilege to teach with him. Fr. Todd is one of the most dedicated, disciplined and caring person that I have ever known, he has great administrative qualities. These qualities led to his appointments as Vice Principal of St. Pat's in Karachi and Principal of St. Bonaventure's in Hyderabad.
Although he has many other great qualities, to the students of St. Patrick's High School he was best known as the bandmaster of St. Patrick's School Band. The band was his passion. He loved and nurtured it with great care and raised the standards to make it the most popular school band in the country.Under his guidance the St. Patrick's School Band played and performed at many important events. I remember that every year he would proudly lead the school band in the Christ The King procession through the streets of Karachi.
Dear Fr. Todd, our family wish you a very happy and blessed 94th Birthday and may God grant you a long life, good health, peace and joy always.
Affectionately yours,
Thelma & Tony Barboza
Concord, California, USA
My earliest recollection of Father Todd was as an altar server in the early forties visiting the Portiuncula Friary with our Director, Father (later Bishop) Ambrose Papiah, on picnic trips and having a dip at the "swimming pool". He was studying to be a Franciscan with John Pinto, Leonard Fernandes, Gasper Mendes Augustine Fernandes, Benny Goveas and some whose names I have forgotten. The first four named hailed from Rasoolji Block, where Fr. Todd also came from.
Then, later, when he was ordained, I served his Mass many times at St. Patrick's. He was always so kind and loving. After Mass, in the sacristy, as it was customary, as an altar boy, I would kneel to receive his blesssing. He became such a close friend through the years, because he is about the only priest I knew in those years who, when we met, would wish me "Hello Sunny" -- my pet name! A few days ago I asked Mike Ali for his phone contact but Mike told me he is no more reachable by phone.
Father Todd I love you very much. May Our Lord bless you with many more years of service in His ministry -- in spite of touching 94!
Alphonso Rodrigues
Seattle, USA_____________________________________________
I recall one day in the 7th. class in 1956. Our teacher sent the whole class to Fr. Todd's office. I was pushed to the front of the line into his office because the class knew that he would not cane me and they would all be spared. They were right he let us all go with a small lecture on behaviour.
My mum Cecilia Soares was a good friend of his sister, Jessie Saville. I would like to call him to wish him for his birthday if you can give me his phone no. Please convey my greetings to him. I will keep him in my prayers.
Leslie Soares
St. Patrick's High School Staff - 1951
Dear Father Todd,
Many happy returns of the day! I hope your birthday is special...just like you.
You have blessed my family with your love and friendship for so many years. You may be surprised to know that I still have the beautiful bookmark you gave me when I started university. Your prayers saw me through. Thank you so much for your encouragement and support.
May God bless you on your 94th birthday and always! My entire family sends you their warm regards and best wishes.
Cheers,
Janice Fernandes Jackson (daughter of Vincent and Lydia Fernandes)
Austin, Texas
USA_____________________________________________
Below is my tribute to my greatest mentor..
Fr. Todd, It was your dedicated Priestly life that made a lasting impression on me particularly. I can never ever forget your method of religious guidance during our school days. The fruits of your labour culminated in the eight of us, your Class of '54, to pursue a priestly career.
Just to refresh your memory, the late Vincent Conception and Gerry D'Souza and the late Fr. Kenneth Viegas entered the Portiuncula Friary. Fr. Bonnie Mendes, the late Fr. Wilfred Dias, Fr. Joseph Paul, Joseph Dias and myself went to the St.Pius X Minor Seminary, Quetta. If I remember well, 1954 was a very fruitful year for vocations in Karachi. Thanks to your exemplary dedicated Priestly life.
You are always in our Thoughts and Prayers. We wish you a very Happy 94th Birthday and many more of them.
AD MULTOS ANNOS.
Tony & Ida Fernandes
Toronto, Canada_____________________________________________
Fr. John Baptist is doing fine. His mind and memory are clear, except that he has gone bent with age. I did not have Fr. Todd as a teacher in St Patrick's. When he was ordained I left to join the friars in Bangalore.
John Baptist was always a man who maintained a discipline in his own life and also with the students in the school. He has had many students who admire him, some of them have been in the government and even as President of the country. They all speak proudly of him and they liked his strictness.
Even today he is up early in the morning, and is always present at the Eucharist and prayers and for meals and recreation.
I can only pray that he continues to keep well.
Happy Birthday to him.
Fr. Louis Mascarenhas
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I was a student of St. Patrick’s High School 1989 batch and I feel proud to say that I had Fr. J. B. Todd as one of my teachers too. A very strict disciplinarian and excellent teacher. He remembered all the crooks in any class and remembered them well. I remember any mischief or not being prepared with our daily lessons would instill a sort of dread within us (not forgetting his caning; once a student got canned, I doubt he got canned again) but I suppose that was what we needed to make us successful in our future.
Thanks you Fr. Todd, we miss those old days of school and that discipline that you instilled in us. I am glad that I had a teacher like you.
God Bless You and Have a wonderful birthday.
Layon Ivan Patrick Lobo
Batch of 1989
Karachi, Pakistan_____________________________________________
I can still remember Fr. Todd walking up and down the corridors of the metric section of St. Patrick's High School, with his cane in the hand and pulling a spot-check in any and all the classrooms.
I remember getting a caning from him for not being able to maintain silence in the class, even though Iwas the prefect of class X C.
Fr. Todd was well acquainted with my family members especially my grandmother, Doreen D'Souza, who worked in the technical section. We used to live behind the school in the compound and I remember seeing him on his walks every morning and sometimes in the evening.
He was the Vice-Principal at that time and it is because of his disciplinary actions that I am what i have become today, an I.T. teacher in a respectful school.
Angelo Pereira
Batch of 2000
Karachi, Pakistan_____________________________________________
An Exemplary Teacher
My first recollection of Fr. Todd is in about 1949. I walked with the rest of the class from the Science lab, where Mr O. B. Nazareth said, "Let me look at your faces and tell you who you are. One by one, he guessed who most of were. He asked me, "Are you Cyril Mendes' brother". I said yes and wondered how he knew me and so many others from our class.Next subject was taught in the next building. Fr. Todd walks into the Catechism class he asks for our full names. When I said, "Boniface Mendes." He repeated, "Boniface, are you Cyril's brother?". I said yes and thought to myself. Wow. I cannot be up to too much mischief these teachers know my roots.
From that day some 66 years ago, Fr. Todd always called me Boniface. Even when I went to see him earlier this year. He saw me entering the Franciscan House, he said, "Boniface, come in, nice to see you, you are looking well. God bless you."
Fr. Todd has a gift of knowing people and knew them very well.
It seems President Musharraf told people around him when he came into power, "I would like to go and see St Patrick's School and teachers like Fr Todd as soon as possible". He did visit his Alma Mater within six months and met his teachers and students of his class, one of whom was John DeCruze.
Fr. Todd never used a cane but he was not at all lenient. His very presence filled the student with awe. His clean white Franciscan habit, well ironed, his hair very well-combed, he was always prim and proper. His classes were well prepared. He made his classes quite interesting.
Fr. Todd was In charge of the Boys Scouts and the School band. I was in the group Student Missionary League, so I was not a student learning scouting from him.
Fr. Todd on your 94th birthday, I wish you a Happy Birthday. You have given us the courage to stand up for justice and truth. You quoted Jesus Christ from the Gospel of Matthew 5:16 and told us, "Let your Light shine before people so that they can see your good deeds and honor your Father in heaven." We will try to shine and the Light will surely help people around us to walk in the Light and give honor to God the Father in heaven.
Thank you Fr. Todd.
Bonnie Mendes
Manila, Philippines_____________________________________________
I wish only that my recent visit to see Uncle could have coincided with his 94th birthday so I could again enjoy the mangoes we shared last in 2012. However, I'm thinking about returning to see him for his 95th!!"
Will try calling on the 30th evening to express my best wishes.
.... from his nephew Osborne in Canada and presently travelling in India.
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Dear Uncle, On behalf of the Patrick family, Robby and Jophy’s children Owen and Elaine. Eugene’s children Robert and Marlene in the States. We wish you a Very Happy Birthday and many, many, more.
We think of you often and the wonderful Sundays we all spent together in our house on Bacajee’s street, with Papa, Mama, Eugene, Margaret, Robby and Jophy and Gracie and Rudy, my mom and dad. Albert would come from England to spend the holidays with us. Now Donald is the only one left of that generation and he now lives in Spain.
Will forward this to him as I’m sure he’d like to send his best wishes too.
Mervyn and I wish you a lovey Birthday and good health always.
Joy
Toronto, Canada_____________________________________________
When I was about six or seven years old, Fr. Todd, my grand uncle, affectionately known as Uncle George, came to visit us in Canada. One of his gifts to me was a cricket bat! My first and only cricket bat. He taught me all I know about the game. I still don't get it, but he tried!!! Of course, I prefer baseball.
Anyway, on recieving the cricket bat and hard ball, I asked my parents if I could take these novalties to, "Show and Tell" at school. Uncle George asked me to tell him more about "Show and Tell." My parents made arrengements for him to go to school with me.
He was a big hit at school that day. He eagerly took the opportunity to explain the game of cricket to my classmates and on observing a rolled up map above the chalkboard, he pulled it down and showed us where Karachi was and also where in the world cricket was played. He also pointed out the some cricket matches took days and weeks!
Planning to come visit you on your 100th birthday!
Love you, Uncle!!!
Mark Todd
Toronto, Canada
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