Fr. Weber passes away

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Rev.Fr. Harold John Weber, the American born Jesuit priest who worked for more than five decades for the development of sports in the Batticaloa died last night around 8.30 p.m. in a private nursing home in the eastern town. He was 84 years old at the time of his death.

The largest sports stadium in Batticaloa which was built by the Batticaloa Municipal Council in the early seventies was named after him in honour of the services he had rendered to the local community and to the development of sports in the district.

Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham TULF MP for Batticaloa, one of Fr.Weber's first students, said in his condolence message "Whenever one speaks of Batticaloa, not only the singing fish and Swami Vipulananda but basket ball also comes to one's mind because of Fr. Weber's untiring efforts".

He said that St.Michaels College in Batticaloa produced the best basket ball teams in the island due to the dedicated work of Fr.Weber.

"It is an irreparable loss to the Batticaloa community" Mr.Joseph added.

Fr.Weber joined the Jesuits in 1930 and was ordained in 1941. He hailed from New Orleans in the United States. He came to Batticaloa in 1947. He remained at St. Michael College since then.