You will be always remembered by your Veiga Coutinho family members in Goa.RMP.

Images of you sweep through my mind- the radiant love in your eyes when you were listening to Barbara or watching Ravi, or talking about Palm trees, or sitting peacefully by the ocean, the list is endless. The world was a much better place with your energy and wisdom in it.
I loved your laughter, almost a giggle , when something caught your fancy, and the joy and care you gave in shopping, cooking, and nurturing the people around you. I loved the way you spoke - the rhythm, tone, clarity.
My love goes with you on this new journey, whatever that might look like. I hope you knew how much you were loved, cherished, and appreciated in this life. May some of your beauty stay here with us.

Somehow forty years ago does not seem so long ago-the memories of those days past are as fresh in my mind as this early morning sunrise. I met both John and Barbara in a small community on the Wisconsin River near Lodi Wisconsin. It was during the Catholic Charismatic movement of the late 1970's, and both John and Barbara curiously attended a small gathering I was at. We quickly became friends, and witnesses to our lives journey's. So many memories .... I remember that stormy winter night in Santa Barbara when my daughter Monique Kariasha was born. I was in the hospital, it was raining and thunder too, there was a large window looking out onto a kind of a park area, suddenly there was a tap tap tap on the window, i was nursing Monique when I looked up, and there was Barbara and John soaking wet, and all bundled up, with the biggest smiles one can imagine looking back at us. John became the Godfather to Monique and Barbara her Godmother. How does one distill the important moments of a friendship that spans forty years. I was honored to be one of the witness at their private wedding in the Santa Barbara Court Yard, it was a glorious day. He was my anchor in so many ways ... In the earlier days of our friendship, our dear friend Ramundo Panikar shared with me how John thought of me as his daughter. Although rarely spoken about I too thought of him as a Father, of course when i first met him I called him Father, as he was still a priest at that time, it took me a long time to break that habit. I do miss him dearly. I visited Barbara and John for a week the year before he passed into the great mystery. Time and distance and life commitments made it hard to visit as often as i would have loved to, the truth is there was rarely a week that went by that I did not think about John, and Barbara too. After all he was an anchor in my life, and helped to shape many of my democratic socialist political views. During my last visit although he was suffering greatly with cdiff, I helped to comfort him as best I could. During this time we had some deep theological conversations, finally he agreed I was ready to understand the 'Cloud of Unknowing', ha-Jesuits are funny that way. I shared the beginning of a book I am working on. He was pleased with this-his pleasure naturally was and is an encouragement to me. What can I say about John ... he is the greatest East Indian Chef! And I was a good student! He gave me the gift of embracing my authenticity, and for this as long as I am here upon the sweet Mother Earth I will be grateful. I miss him, and i will continue to call upon him as my anchor into the theological, intellectual, and creative realms, and when even now ... that i may desire the comfort of a Father, i call upon him -- "At the head of all these laws, in and through every particle of matter and force, stands One through whose command the wind blows, the fire burns, the clouds rain, and death stalks upon the earth. And what is His nature? He is everywhere the pure and formless One, the Almighty and the All Merciful. Thou art our Father. Thou art our beloved Friend." Extract from a prayer Swami Vivekananda delivered at the Chicago World's Parliament of Religions September 1893 .... much love to family and friends of Joao ... forever in our hearts, in the waters of the sea and in the stars of the night. aho~

How lucky were we who knew Joao! I loved that twinkle in his eyes that accompanied his wonderful sense of humor, fabulous conversations enriched by his deep and wide-ranging interests, and especially, his compassionate concern for all. A sweet memory stands out of Joao watching little Ravi, who was fine playing by himself, as long as he had Joao's full attention. If Joao, the scholar, picked up a book, Ravi would fuss. So Joao, the caring dad, put down his book and gave Ravi his full, loving gaze. Our memories of Joao will stay in our hearts forever, reminding us that a good man walked the earth.

I have no words to describe our beloved uncle Joao because I hardly had any contact with him although I was his eldest nephew which I regret very much. I have heard a lot of good things about him from different people who knew him well. He was a great man who will be missed by most of people who knew him especially his family. May God give him eternal rest. I hope will meet again at the place God has reserved for us.

Au revoir tio João. Will meet
you in the heavenly abode where you are already for sure.

There'll never b another U t. João! U were one in a million. A remarkable human being, very caring n compassionate. ..if I were to write what U meant to all of us, I cd write volumes. But all I will say is: U meant the world to all of us.We will miss you dearly. .
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