This page commemorates the life of Joseph Faria.
Joseph was the first born of Ligia and Albert Faria and was welcomed into the world on 15th January 1936 in Mombasa, Kenya. Joe began life as a very affable if shy youngster. At school, tertiary and in the workforce, the ease with which he interacted with people, his love of banter and his genuine appreciation of humankind made him much sought after company.
He qualified as a primary school teacher, endearing himself to his students. He also excelled on the sports field, particularly in athletics, where he reached heights of international competition when he represented Kenya in the 4x100 relay at the Commonwealth Games. He showed himself to be a great team player as well as someone who could pursue the winner's crown in individual sport, excelling in table tennis and hockey, winning for himself accolades and his team several trophies.
In 1966, two momentous decisions were made simultaneously. He had just met the love of his life, Auxilia, and he was preparing to leave Kenya for London. They were later to marry in 1968; an event at which most of the family was able to celebrate. He had left Kenya for the UK in 1966, ostensibly to pursue a legal career in the course of which he discovered that he was still attracted to teaching. He pursued studies in mathematics and education, which enabled him to work at secondary level. Over the years, his fame as a maths teacher made him sought after by students at various levels of the education spectrum, even those aspiring to enter university and in need of mathematical coaching. He taught for more than 30 years at Wimbledon Chase School and for much of his tenure was Head of Mathematics there. Such was his popularity as a mathematics teacher, that he was persuaded by the board to continue teaching after his official retirement at the age of 65, until he was 80.
Joe loved jazz. He would have loved to play in a band and always found the keyboard irresistible. His lifelong friends shared many of his interests, which meant that he was never short of friends.
When, in 1969, his first child Carla was born, followed by Melanie in 1972, Joe was a contented family man and like all family men, was balancing family, career and life in his own inimitable way. The marriages of his two daughters to Michael Dohan and Peter Conway respectively and subsequent births of his grandchildren, Felix, Isabella and Amelie were key milestones in the family's history. Family occasions such as the marriages of a niece and nephew and a sister meant happy reunions with family members and travel to Sri Lanka and Australia respectively. The realities of life hit him squarely in the face when his younger daughter, Melanie, was diagnosed with breast cancer and succumbed to the disease in 2011.
Joe was struck down with heart problems in August, passing away when under sedation after an angioplasty procedure on the night of 10th September. Sadly, the cruelty of the prohibitions imposed by Covid 19 meant that no one could visit Joe while he was in hospital and he passed away without the comfort of his loved ones around him. Thankfully, he enjoyed a long video call with Auxilia, Carla, Michael and his granddaughters the day before he passed. He was laughing and joking with them, teasing the children and exchanging endearments with Auxilia.
Joe leaves behind his family, his siblings Angelo in the US and his son Kevin, Melba and her husband Chris in Sri Lanka and their chldren Romeish and Roshanara and Yvette and her husband Howard in Australia.
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About |
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| Name | Joseph Carlos Faria |
| Date of Birth | January 15th, 1936 |
| Date of Death | September 10th, 2020 |
| Home Town | Mombasa, Mombasa County, KE |
| Other City | London, England, GB |
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published a tribute .
There are some people who make an impression on your life that just stays with you, and Mr Faria was one of those people. He was my Maths and History teacher whilst at Wimbledon Chase and he was a good man. I’m happy to hear he continued to work until such an age but am sorry to hear of his passing. He was an inspirational teacher and there are not that many of those going around. RIP Mr Faria.
Love, Peter Everett
Thank you Peter, for sharing this. He was a very good dad and grandfather too
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published a tribute .
I was so sad to hear about the passing of Mr Faria. I was just googling him hoping to get in touch for Maths tuition for my 9 year old daughter. Mr faria helped me so much in 1999 when I was about to sit my GCSEs. He took me from an E grade to a B within a matter of a few months. He was the only one I ever recall that made it really simple for me to learn as I had a lot of problems and difficulties in school. His kind and patient explanations are what's needed for every child... And after a few examples he would give me confidence to approach problems. What a lovely man I am so sad for the family and especially sad hearing about his daughter who passed who I would see sometimes at the home. Rest in peace Mr Faria, thank you for helping thousands of children become very successful and equip them for the future. Sorry for your loss to the family
Hi Raza,
Thank you so much for this memory. My daughters and I were reading the new additions to this page last night and this made us so happy. I hope you've found a tutor for your daughter x
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published a tribute .
Carla, sorry to hear of your dad passing on. Please pass on my condolences tou your mum. Hope you are doing well. I am trying to get in touch with your mum and Uncle Aureo. I am their cousin. Ambrose D'Silva was my dad and your grandma's brother. Look forward to reply. Stay safe and well.
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Hello Vivette. Thank you so much for your condolences. I will try to direct message you. Very best, Carla
Vivette, if you can message me through this platform (you go up to the top and click on the arrow icon), you can send me your email address and I can then send you my Mum's contact details. Thank you!
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published a tribute .
Rest in peace Joe. Our families in Mombasa go back a long way and share a lot of memories. Deep sympathies to all your family all over the world from Zeena Wilson nee Vianna.
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published a comment .
I was so sorry to read this and discover that my favorite teacher of all time had passed away. He made a real difference to my life at Wimbledon Chase Middle School 1975-1979. I was what i can only describe as unruly and prior to School Leagues etc written off a little. But Mr Faria saw past the bravado and really got me learning, he saw past the BS and just saw a kid who was intelligent enough just needed direction. It really made him stand out for me. Through him I owe a lot of my working life. I'm am so pleased I got a chance as an adult to thank him personally. We held a reunion of our year group 75-79 a couple of years ago which he attended. He was the star that night, time for everybody and remembering them and their families and other siblings which was remarkable in itself. He really made a huge difference to my and a lot of others lives in Merton. He will never be forgotten by me and I have the huge claim to fame that I was introduced to a Miss World through my Maths Teacher. Love to the family but just wanted you to know from one of those snotty kids he taught He was the man..
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published a tribute .
I am so sad to hear this news. Mr Faria was my maths teacher at Wimbledon Chase Middle School in the mid to late 70s. He was a legend and gave me a love of maths that has lasted to this day and given me a fantastic career along the way. My fondest memory of him was his ‘blackboard rubber’ discipline which still makes me chuckle to this day. Enjoy your well earned rest Mr Faria abs thank you x
Ha, yes, the infamous blackboard rubber. Thank you for this post Ruth
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published a tribute .
First, please excuse the length of this post, but there are lots of memories from the 40+ years I’ve known Joe. He was my uncle (my father is his brother Angelo). Though I live in the US, my parents and I regularly visited London when I was a child, so I have lots of happy memories of Joe and family. I kept visiting as I grew older, most recently last year (sadly, a trip this year was cancelled due to Covid-19).
I feel privileged to have spent so much time with Joe over the years, and learned quite a few things about him. Family was of utmost importance to Joe. His wife, Auxilia, and his daughters Carla, and the dearly departed Melanie, always came first. Later, their spouses, Michael (Carla) and Peter (Melanie) were warmly welcomed as family as well. His grandchildren (Isabella, Amelie, and Felix), were the apples of his eye, and he always kept in close contact with them. Though his siblings (Angelo, Yvette, and Melba) are spread across the world, he kept in close contact with them as well. He also maintained a wide number of friendships over the years, from people in the Goan community in London, work, neighbors, and many more. His easygoing style and friendliness naturally attracted people.
Joe also touched the lives of many students over his decades as a maths teacher. In fact, his teaching style was so popular that he started tutoring on the side. Even as an adult when I came to visit, the house often had multiple children of different ages undergoing tutorials by Joe. We always did a pub meal near where he used to teach when I’d visit, and even in recent years it wasn’t unusual to hear students shouting a warm hello to him.
Joe was an avid jazz fan--it was always on when we were in the car, and he would talk fondly of visiting Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London. He was also an ardent sportsman in his younger days (as you can see in the pictures) and regularly watched sport on television. I always knew if I was visiting during Wimbledon that I wouldn’t see him if there were games on television!
He also was very interested in current events and US politics, and kept up with them through his daily newspapers (in which he always did the crosswords) and watching of television news. He always used to ask me about Donald Trump and be amazed and frustrated by him (as are most of us).
When I last saw him in May 2019, he was in good spirits and good shape, and moved around like someone easily 20 years younger, so his passing was unexpected. I find some solace in the fact that he touched so many others and had a life well lived in his 84 years. Uncle Joe, you will be deeply missed.
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Kevin - thank you so much for this beautiful tribute. My parents loved having you in London, whenever you visited and I know my mother will still welcome you whenever you are able to come next. I am so pleased that you managed to spend a lot of time with Dad. He was full of stories and fun and it I think everyone felt better after some time with him.
Lots of love as always x
published a comment .
If
a = inspiration
X = gentle man
Y = legend
Then a2xy = Mr Faria
He was a truly inspirational teacher who enabled me to understand algebraic equations which I still apply today in my working life without his patience and encouragement my path might have been quite different Rip Sir!
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published a tribute .
We last met at the family gathering in Adelaide of your sister Yvette! The informal gatherings and the jokes and memory exchanges are very much alive! Our families knew each other in Mombasa. We visited you in the UK. Who was to know years later, I would marry your cousin Pauline. Her father Roque Figueiredo's mother was your mother's sister. Our heartfelt condolences to your siblings Angelo, Melba and Yvette.
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published a comment .
Joe was a true legend and I am desperately sad to hear this news. Not only an inspirational Maths teacher but a wonderful man... the gentlest and kindest gentlemen you could ever hope to meet.
Rest peacefully, dear Joe, knowing just how many young (and old) people are the better for knowing you.
My deep condolences to all the family.
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published a tribute .
Mr Faria was my maths teacher at Wimbledon Chase between 1976-1980 and a true legend. I am so sad to hear news of his passing. Sending all his family love and sympathies. May he rest in peace and in the knowledge that he inspired generations. Rosalia Salik
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published a tribute .
A committed and inspirational teacher. Was my maths teacher at Wimbledon Chase in the mid to late 70’s and my brother’s between early-mid 70’s. What a character - was truly a meaningful influence to me and many more beyond mathematics. Always pushed me to be better than I imagined I could be! I had the pleasure of meeting him a few years ago, after many many years.... it was a true pleasure! His drive and dynamism was undiminished!! RIP My Faria, a life well lived! Sincerest condolences to his family. With much love, Paresh Kanani
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published a tribute .
I first met Joe in 1999 when I joined Wimbledon Chase as a young teacher. He was warm and welcoming and made me feel instantly part of the Chase family. I am still teaching at Wimbledon Chase and the stories of Joe and his amazing teaching are legendary. He made maths come alive and inspired all he taught. Sending my condolences to all the family. Donna Newell x
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published a tribute .
I’ve known Joe since 1992, he taught some of my children at Wimbledon Chase. I continued there until 2015 and he popped back frequently and I’m proud to have called him a friend. He was a lovely man, although he did tell the same jokes repeatedly! He will be sorely missed and I doubt he ever realised the impact he had on so many people. Sending condolences to his family, that he talked about with pride. Rest in peace Joe, fly high and I’ll miss those jokes, particularly the pigeon one!! Sandra Butcher and family.
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Now I'm desperate to know the pigeon one! He didn't tell it at home!
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So lovely to see Joe so happy and vibrant in the photos. And to hear him sing! I shall miss him. I shall miss our spontaneous chats and his glee and seeing him and his car on my way in to Southfields... and his stories... and his voice on the phone... and his presence. Much love from me, my mum and my dad - Leela xxx
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published a comment .
It's amazing when a person passes away your mind goes into overdrive where the most inconsequential events or speech becomes so vivid it wrecks you emotionally.
Joe and I lived in the U.K. after we left Kenya and till I left for Ceylon we lived in the same neighborhood in London and thru the following years we kept in touch and I saw a lot of him and his family on my trips to the U.K. His ability to be non-confrontational was a characteristic which endeared him to us. He had the ability to make you feel good. I took him to all our friends homes during the season of Christmas of 2019 when he and his family spent 14 glorious days with me and his ability to blend out close friends who had never met before was phenomenal . Christmas in Sri Lanka is legendary and to top it at our Christmas dinner where I hosted 25 Dias/Faria families and our close friends to a sit down dinner and with a Sri Lankan jazz singer in attendance and was the ultimate for him. she played his favorites songs where he accompanied her. my memory of him is so comforting today ; how happy and relaxed he was. I indulged in him shamelessly.
He was my friend and brother we went down memory lane of our times in Mombasa Kenya how he would loved to spend the winter of his life sipping a chilled at the manor hotel with his buddies Edmund lupino and Aldred.
I thank god for his life for the person he was. The number of emails I have received from my childhood friends who I have not heard from since I left Kenya in 1967 is a true confirmation of the impact Joe made on all us nothing dramatic just something warm and fuzzy
I live in a predominantly Buddhist country where a teaching of Lord Buddha translated says man to be remembered has to be revered for his kindness to fellowmen other achievements of education and statues fade away " for here lies a good man". Death is final but love and rememberance is all you can hold on to. A quote from from the Bible "in my fathers house there are many rooms and when I come to get you I will take you there for where I am you will be"said Jesus .
So I have no doubt you are just there.
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published a tribute .
Just today I wanted to share something of concern and I remembered my older brother only he wasn't around to hear it. Joe was someone you could turn to in good times and in bad. He was comfortable to be with come rain or shine
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published a comment .
It's amazing when a person passes away your mind goes into overdrive where the most inconsequential events or speech becomes so vivid it wrecks you emotionally.
Joe and I lived in the U.K. after we left Kenya and till I left for Ceylon we lived in the same neighborhood in London and thru the following years we kept in touch and I saw a lot of him and his family on my trips to the U.K. His ability to be non-confrontational was a characteristic which endeared him to us. He had the ability to make you feel good. I took him to all our friends homes during the season of Christmas of 2019 when he and his family spent 14 glorious days with me and his ability to blend out close friends who had never met before was phenomenal . Christmas in Sri Lanka is legendary and to top it at our Christmas dinner where I hosted 25 Dias/Faria families and our close friends to a sit down dinner and with a Sri Lankan jazz singer in attendance and was the ultimate for him. she played his favorites songs where he accompanied her. my memory of him is so comforting today ; how happy and relaxed he was. I indulged in him shamelessly.
He was my friend and brother we went down memory lane of our times in Mombasa Kenya how he would loved to spend the winter of his life sipping a chilled at the manor hotel with his buddies Edmund lupino and Aldred.
I thank god for his life for the person he was. The number of emails I have received from my childhood friends who I have not heard from since I left Kenya in 1967 is a true confirmation of the impact Joe made on all us nothing dramatic just something warm and fuzzy
I live in a predominantly Buddhist country where a teaching of Lord Buddha translated says man to be remembered has to be revered for his kindness to fellowmen other achievements of education and statues fade away " for here lies a good man". Death is final but love and rememberance is all you can hold on to. A quote from from the Bible "in my fathers house there are many rooms and when I come to get you I will take you there for where I am you will be"said Jesus .
So I have no doubt you are just there.
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published a tribute .
On behalf of my mother, Delphine Noronha, the last surviving Noronha of that generation, We would like to say how wonderful it was to have Joe visit our home in Nairobi, where he came to participate in either hockey matches or in running for Kenya. Joe was a warm, bubbly, larger than life person who surrounded himself with friends and had time for all!
Our families were very close since Joe’s Mum and my Dad followed each other as the 13th and 14th siblings, and we spent many happy holidays at his parent’s Faria Villa in Gangoni, Mombasa. May he rest in peace!
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Fernanda, thank you for your lovely words. Dad talked about you and the whole clan so often that we are certain you had a huge amount of fun growing up and being young adults in Kenya! Yes, dad was huge fun... a characteristic he continued right into old age. Your mum sent us a beautiful email of condolence today, which I've shared with my mother. Thank you.
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published a tribute .
Your dad was our neighbour and reminded me alot of my dad, who we sadly lost nearly 10 years ago.
We think of Joe and Auxelia as family.
I am so so sorry for your loss, we will really miss Joe - a truly wonderful man. Tom and Emma xxxxx
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Emma, my Dad thought that you, Tom and your lovely girls were wonderful. I know how happy he would be, knowing that you're next door to Mum xx
published a comment .
Carla When I last met your Dad in 1999 when my wife and I (newly weds)we visited him and Aunt Auxilia at their place in Wimbledon.He made us feel so much at home and took us out to the city of London for dinner.(it was first time my wife met my Dad -Archie's side of family). He loved sports and I could see him getting along with any young person 'cos he was so bright and engaging.May his soul Rest in Peace .Kurt ,Venita and my mum Melita xxx
Kurt - thank you for these lovely memories. I remember you and Venita coming to London and us all having lunch at a Japanese restaurant in Wimbledon. Yes, you're right; Dad was perfectly at home with people of all ages. He engaged with everyone and everyone engaged with him. It was effortless... he was such a 'people person'. I hope, once Covid is less of a threat, we will be able to catch up in person.
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