"...Master John V. Neeff was my tutor..."
"...For Master Neeff, being a teacher has been like a student for his entire life...Additionally, a teacher has to be a parent, master, guide, oracle, referee, a PRO, an actor, a moulder, a mover. Master Neeff was all these and more. A rare quality of percipience..."
ST. IGNATIUS FOREVER ! -
31st July 1988
Spanish warrior turned valiant Knight of Christ
Of young scholars ignited by your tryst
Clarioned by you to serve humanity
In the name of Jesus' Society
Every Continent your sons have scoured
To nourish soul, mind and body sore-starved
Your glory, Ignatians, we sing today.
Of Saints and Martyrs that light our way
Famed pioneer Educationists
Jesuits unrivaled world Scientists
Each and every worker at Stanislaus'
Senses with pride his share so glorious
Uplifted by "Natus ad Majora",
Soar our hearts "Per ardua ad astra!"
A TEACHER'S TRIBUTE TO HIS PUPILS
[THE EXAMINER : 28th July 1990]
"...I was planning this article, when a sudden ominous turn in my ten-year old physical ailment compelled me to prolonged hospitalization..."
"...I am deeply indebted to its reputed Editor, Msgr. B.M.Aguiar, for his never-failing goodwill and to the genial, ever-cheerful Msgr. Theodore Pereira, Manager of the Press. Both of them are old pupils of mine..."
"...In 1928 I entered St. Stanislaus' High School, my Alma Mater, where I had studied in the Secondary Section as a boarder during 1920-23..."
"...This write-up is likely to be labeled as "an airy nothing", unless it is given some concrete testimony...categorizing them into groups, according to my "diagnosis", may I be permitted to do so, hereunder :
Affection, Simple and Docile:
...Assoogevat Shah,...Cliffy and Esmond Fonseca,...Zachary & Zena Phillips,...Air Marshall Terence D'Sa,...Bishop Francis Braganza.
Sparkling with Wit and Pranks: ...(Fr.) Aloysius Pereira, Ivan Valles (complete angler !), Naoroz Vakil,...(Fr.) Robin Selwyn (always "why ?"),...Keki Gharda (super star).
For Unforgettable Services:...Dr. Rui Fernandes, Dr. Fali Driver, Dr. Eric D'Souza,...Cyril Henriques, (Fr.) Nereus Rodrigues, (Fr.) Rodney Esperance, Raphy Donald, Freny Palia.
Gratefully Appreciative Of My Teaching : Fr. Vincent D'Silva,...Roger Pereira, (Fr.) Jude Pereira,...Simon Parmar,...Peter Coelho (Hotel Ramada Inn),...
Exemplary Dedication : Russi Chichgar, Siraj Ahmed, Albert daCunha, Archbishop Ivan Dias, Peter Gonsalves, Desmond D'Cunha,...(Fr.)Herbert Alphonso,...Sr. Margaret Alphonso,...(Dr.) Roshan Irani..."
REMEMBERING PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS OF OLD
[THE EXAMINER : 31st August 1991]
"Teacher's Day observed annually on September 5, evokes happy memories of the Philosopher President of India, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, who instituted it in 1960...
"...To my mind, Dr. Radhakrishnan, who was also a visionary, perhaps had a glimpse of the streaks of today's deviation from the values held sacred by the teachers of yore. Accordingly, Teacher's Day conveys a subtle message to the conscience of the Ministry of Education to urge the Government to give top priority to this important nation-building work..."
"...Twenty years later, in 1955, Fr. Daniel Donnely was like a spiritual force..."
"...Fortunately, however, in Willie D'Souza, whom I knew since 1922, and Peter Paul Oliver, a classmate in St. Xavier's College in 1925-27, both of whom had joined a year earlier, I found my level of companionship. The three of us Willie, Oliver and Neeff (hereafter the WON trio)..."
"...Fr. Joseph Casassayas (1932-39) was appointed Rector, Principal and Parish Priest, Bandra remembers him as the Colossus, ..."
"...S.W. Phadnis, the peerless conscientious Hindi teacher, a never failing prop to every Catholic student..."
"...Joseph Aranha, dynamic in the classroom, at social functions and stage performances..."
TO SIR WITH LOVE - Simon Parmar
[THE EXAMINER : 12thJuly 1990]
"Sir, The Examiner (August 22, 1992) brought me the sad news that my revered and beloved Sir, Mr. J.V.Neeff is no more.
Mr. Neeff was an eminent teacher, well versed in art and teaching. He was also a linguist. His English (and also his looks) reminded me of the great Dr. Samuel Johnson, whose letter to Lord Chesterfield he brought to life in one of his English classes.
Languages were not his only forte for he was proficient in Maths also. He motivated me to learn Latin in such a way that I could easily follow the Mass and other ceremonies conducted in Latin then.
He was a great asset to St. Stanislaus' not only as a learned and dedicated teacher but also as a friend, philosopher and guide. I admired his outspokenness and frankness. He would speak his mind fearlessly and frankly before the school authorities. He inculcated real Christian values in us and was a source of great inspiration to me personally.
I am indebted to his love and keen personal interest in me. In fact what I am today is in great measure the result of his handiwork.
Today when the population of teachers, with superficial knowledge of their subjects, with little or no commitment either to their students or institutions, crazed with a desire to mint money by grabbing tuitions unscrupulously, and using unfair means at the examinations is on the increase, a handful of teachers like Mr. J.V.Neeff serve as a beacon-light amidst the gloom encircling the world of education.
Mr. Simon F Parmar
Asst. Editor, "DOOT", Ahmedabad."
MY DAD...
By: Bob Neeff - Montreal, Canada
[20th September 1992]
"JOHN VICTOR NEEFF, better known as Master Neeff has passed away, but, his memory lives on. To his many students, he was a strict disciplinarian, compassionate and empathized with their concerns. His formidable personality, one of discipline and integrity, was often mistaken by many as one to be feared at home amongst his wife and children. On the contrary, my father loved his family and I am mighty proud of him.
He instilled in us the love of God, by constantly reminding us of prayer to the Almighty, not just in need but constant, sustained prayer for assistance in whatever we endeavoured to do. One of his greatest traits was daily prayer to the Holy Spirit for enlightenment and guidance, which he faithfully followed and about which he often reminded us.
My father was an honest man, who fought relentlessly and zealously to uphold the truth. He never compromised the truth. In his last letter of July to me, he had an occasion to say, 'True to the tenets of the Lord:' "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." That was the extent of his belief and faith in truth.
My dad always had a sense of humour, ready wit and would rise to the occasion whenever needed. He impressed upon us the zest for hard work and often emphasized that any task undertaken must have total dedication, a sense of accomplishment as if there is no tomorrow.
He was a loving father, sensitive to the needs of our mother and his children. We were never in want because Dad always provided for us. Dad always admired and loved Mom intently. He believed in, consulted and shared implicitly with my mother that when she died, he felt, that a part of him also died. However, he often consoled himself in his many letters to me by the innumerable references made to my mother, that though she may be dead, she is his inspiration living in him.
Well Dad, your children Phoebe, Larry, Bob and Narry admired your honesty, integrity, and forthrightness in life and we sincerely thank you for it and even in death we salute you."