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Tributes to Dr Albert Bertie Manuel, a WACC Honorary member |
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Tuesday, 05 May 2009 16:30 |
 | Dr. Manuel, (back row - fourth from left), died on 30th of April 2009 in Santhome, Chennai, India. The photo was shared by George Conklin, a member of the WACC North America Regional Executive Committee (back row, third from left).
George and others shared their lasting tributes to Bertie as follows: | | | “I was sorry to read about Bertie's death in Chennai. He and I did a number of communication workshops in the Asia region in the 1980s, in addition to serving on the WACC Central Committee together. As I sit and think back I can remember him stepping apart from the group and listening to the cricket scores on his small shortwave radio.
When I co-led the workshop in Madras (Chennai) his daughter took me on several tours, ranging from museums to watching the fishermen come in at the beach with their day's catch. The most colorful was a visit to a sari shop where she shopped for saris to wear to weddings of friends."
George Conklin
member, WACC North America Regional Executive Committee | | ***** | “For around five years, the Manuel’s and Thomas’s shared a lovely old house in Madras, now Chennai. Both Bertie and TK worked at the CLS. What I remember best about Bertie is his coming back from work around 4.30PM and immediately joining in a game of cricket in progress in our yard. Bertie had a bad leg although he could bowl a mean off-spinner. At least when Bertie was playing we could get away with breaking a few garden pots that his wife Vimala had carefully tended. Bertie had begun travelling outside of India by the late 60s and I remember him getting a three LP Woodstock album in early 1970. I will not forgive Anand, his son, for playing it loud enough for Bertie and Vimala to hear the bad language. It was promptly exchanged at the local music shop for some anodyne music!
I hear that one term that he contributed to the WACC vocabulary was that of the ‘co-pilgrim’, true partnership in a project. He played a pioneering role in introducing the study of communication in theological education – and I guess that from a research perspective – this was one of his major contributions."
Pradip Thomas, former Regional Coordinator for WACC Asia and also former Director of the Forum Sector, WACC. Pradip’s father,T.K. Thomas, mentioned in this tribute, and Bertie were great friends. | | ***** | | Thank you for sending the information about Bertie Manuel. He is one of the founders of the present WACC and so important to establish it in the worldwide community. He was so helpful to the members and denominations in North America who were involved in communication ministries. Bertie was one of the greatest pioneers of WACC. Rev. David Briddell
WACC Honorary member | | ***** | | Please accept our heartfelt condolences for all the WACC Members who have gone to be with the Lord lately,
Rev. Nelson Agyemang
Apostle Fountain of Leadership Church
Kumasi-Ghana
| | ***** | Please convey my condolences to Mrs. Vimla Manuel, daughters Preethi and Viji and and son Anand. I was tremendously upset to hear this sad news. I pray from my heart that God spares your pain and sadness. It indeed soothes me that he is now with his Lord. I whole heartedly share your sorrow and will always remember him in our hearts given his valuable work.
My sincere condolences.
Rev. Andrea Zaki Stephanous, Ph. D.
Vice General Director for Program Affaires
Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services
Cairo, Egypt | | | | |
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