Fatima College mourns former principal

Best known for being kind, easygoing and fair, former principal of Fatima College Mervyn Moore, 80, died on May 20.

Principal of Fatima, Fr Gregory Augustine told Sunday Newsday Moore started working at the school as a teacher in 1959 and became principal in September 1981 when Clive Pantin resigned to go into politics. He retired in December 1999.

He described Moore as laid back and easygoing as a teacher of geography and religion, as a principal, and as a person.

“He could not be described as strict or stern so people felt comfortable in his presence. Even if you disagreed with him, he would not hold that against you. It would not be some hindrance in your ability to work with him.”

He said Moore was also “a bit of a sportsman” as, up to a few years ago, he would play football with a group of Fatima friends on Friday afternoons.

Moore left behind to mourn his wife Zena, three sons, a daughter, and five grandchildren.

Anthony Moore, said his father had vascular dementia and died from complications related to a stroke around 8 pm on Wednesday.

He recalled that Moore had very high morals and values and operated with those in mind in both his personal and professional lives. He added that he and his brothers attended Fatima while their father was principal and they “had to be straight as a pin.”

He said when his father got involved in a project he would give 100 per cent of himself, and he had faith in the goodness in people, giving them the benefit of the doubt.

“One of the things I remember is that he always gave people a second and third chance. He saw the best in people. He saw the potential, especially in young men, and he treated us that way as well. I mean, you will have to pay the piper for your transgressions but you will always get a chance.”

Another son, Louis Moore, who works at the International School of Port of Spain said he always wanted to educate and support people. He said he got the idea from both his parents since his mother was once a teacher at Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive School.

He recalled how his parents would use their resources to engage their students, as well as children in the neighbourhood, in wholesome activities so the youths could experience things they never had before.

He said when they were young it was a challenge to see neighbours and friends taking up Moore’s free time.

“We had to share him with everybody else, especially the Fatima family. So he was not just a father to us, he was a father to many others.”