Olavio and I knew each other since our days at St.Joseph Convent School. Our friendship continued and grew stronger when we came to the USA in 1962 and remained so until his death.
He was a kind and gentle person full of life. He loved his family and friends and was proud of his Portuguese heritage. When I last visited him in August, 2023 I found him at peace. I will miss him.
“To meet, to know, to love and then to part, is the sad tale of many a heart.”
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Tony Antao
3366. North Lake Drive
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211
414-444-0993
414-708-5775(Cell)
Dear Christine & Family Members
Our heartfelt condolences to you and all your family members on hearing the sad news of Olavio which certainly came as a major shock.
Introducing myself, Benito De Souza born in Zanzibar and married to Betty Bocarro well known to all the 'Martins' family whilst we lived in Zanzibar, now resident in the United Kingdom.
I would like to inform you I personally lived opposite the Martins in Zanzibar. Both our families were very good friends. Unfortunately contacts were broken when we all dispersed to various countries across the globe.
In 2005, Betty and myself attended the St. Joseph's Convent School Zanzibar Reunion organised by Joanita & Co., in Toronto Canada where we were fortunate to meet up with Olavio at the dinner dance.
P.S. At the function, I did a small Rock n' Roll medley singing with the band and immediately as I left the band stand, Olavio came up to me and gave me a big hug congratulating me for my singing saying how he remembered me singing in Zanzibar.
I was also fortunate to take a photograph of Olavio and Betty which I enclose in this special 'Farewell Tribute to Olavio' together with our condolence message.
Olavio's elder brother Junjao was my very good friend as we played various games where Junjao was a very good table tennis, carom and hockey player besides being in the scouts troop where his dad Mr. Frank Martins was our Scout Master together with Betty's brother Colin Bocarro. Junjao also played with me in a couple of bands to include the band Stardust.
As a token of remembrance, I have put together a special unique blogspot titled 'Farewell Tribute to Olavio Martin' - blogspot name..... https://olaviomartins.blogspot.com, hosting a few photographs and Condolence messages from some good friends.
This tribute is a special gift from Benny & Betty, special friends of the Martins.
Best wishes to all.
Benny & Betty
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Post by Yvette de Souza-Muise
Dear Christine & Family,
Copy: My dearest Family and Friends,
Sad tidings!
OLAVIO Martins! ….our neighbour in Vuga Zanzibar of yore. I think that you my dearest siblings share my memories of our days in Vuga Zanzibar. Wonderful days they were.
We were so lucky to have the best neighbours in all of Unguja, I kid you not. We were like one big family in every way. The Martins, the Pereiras, the Papa Constantinos, the de Souza’s, the Pintos/ the Arab /the Indian friends, /the friends from the Seychelles/ the Comorian/and other Goan families just beyond, made our world an international ‘United Nations’ of our own…. [Fatuma, Zarina, Marina, Dashoga, Freddy, Ida , Hazel, George, Democritus, Domingo , Timothy, Ella, the Fernandes’s , the Boishes , ??? … help…. memory failure.]
I was very much saddened to hear of the passing of Olavio our neighbour across the street. The Martins were a very gentle people who made life in Vuga very pleasant. Our parents were very pleased to have such wonderful neighbours and surroundings in which to bring up their brood of five kids. It couldn’t have been any better. Yes we were one BIG FAMILY.. Ha !
Zanzibar seems to have been so long ago, but names like OLAVIO and Zara and their siblings, at once conjure up wonderful memories of once upon a time in idyllic paradise on earth. My memory is getting a bit rusty as I try to rustle up all the names of friends and neighbours of yore, but this I’ll say, ‘THANK YOU’ all of you who were our friends, companions, school mates, and neighbours par excellence. You ALL, by your friendships, and caring, influenced us to be what we are today. And that’s no lie. ASANTE SANA.
Farewell OLAVIO. Stay safe with Jesus where our Mike, our Malaika , also resides since 2020. Rest in peace dear friend.
Much love and condolences to All the Martin Family. Also, much love and blessings to the families of All our former neighbours and friends who have been summoned to heaven over the years.
Love and blessings to ALL our Vuga friends and neighbours too around the world today.
God bless.
Yvette de Souza-Muise
I was shocked to learn of the sudden passing of young Olavio Martins. He was such an extremely nice, considerate, jovial, always smiling lad, the younger brother of my former classmate namely the late Zara.
I had a very pleasant telephonic conversation with him, whilst he was at his home in Reno, Nevada, just a few days ago. Like all rapidly aging old blokes, some rather alarmingly faster than the others, we refreshingly reminisced about our joyful and carefree life in Zanzibar.
I did tell him that I always did admire his parents' tiny little Portuguese flag that they flew, almost apologetically, from one of their windows, when I used to go and buy bread from the nearby Greek bakery. Then, if I had the time, I used to cross over the little green to where Benito lived and see if I could go and pester him.
Rest in Peace, dearest Olavio. We all miss you.
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Dr. Betty Spry's Post:
Dear Ben,
As you can imagine I have been drawn back to the past. Condolence thoughts on Olavio have taken me to a place that I had not realised still had a 'a life'. This mental trip has made me somewhat disorientated which has disturbed me from the chores of today.
Thoughts of our PAST keep interrupting me. Olavio and I were 12 when we met and we had a cat and dog relationship because we both competed at school.
After our 'O'levels we both finished with our St. Joseph convent school and moved to King George's ('A'levels) school. We were then " teenagers " and I was then watched by the ' Thought ' police, mostly headed by my mother, ending any contact between Olavio and me.
Olavio and I were seperated by continents. But the Thought Police remained and Olavio was not defeated. He wasn't defeated by anything or anyone which is why he had what he deserved, which was a Good Death and The Good Lord gave Olavio that.
Ben, Jonita and Anthony were the Chosen Providers.
With Sadness
Betty
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Sincere condolences to the Martin family. Olavio was my classmate.
Zarin Avari
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So sad to hear of Olavio Martin’s death ,
I remember happy days spent in Pemba during the holidays with the Martin family . Happy times !
Also in Zanzibar .
Sincere Condolences to Christine and all the Martin family . RIP Olavio
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This Poem was sent to me by Omal Maitra, my brother in law. He knew Olavio and our friendship (Tony-Olavio)
Omal Maitra wrote:
Don't know what to say, but try, I will
Adolph wrote:Olavio & you,Continents travelledOceans crossedLife's song sung.The journey long,Unbreakable bondWeary travellers now,The sidewalk endsTis time to say ......"Farewell to thee! but not farewellTo all my fondest thoughts of thee:
Within my heart they still shall dwell;
And they shall cheer and comfort me. "A verse to Contemplateby Anne Bronte (one of the lesser known Bronte Sisters)= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
This is the last and only email I received from Olavio on 6 September. He must have been one year ahead of me in SJCS and KGVI having gone to America along with Tony in 1962.
I used to know him in Zanzibar and pass his house on my way to school. I did meet him in 2005 and am glad he remembered me when I recently wrote an email to wish him well.
Unfortunately, as Joanita would say the spirit world has called him. I have always held him in high regard.
God be with him always.
Adolph de Sousa
Rooky Driver wrote.
Very sorry to hear about Olavio. He was my teacher briefly and we had kept in touch.
Goodbye for now, Olavio.
Olavio and I knew each other since our days at
He was a kind and gentle person full of life.
“To meet, to know, to love and then to part, is the sad tale of many a heart.”
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Tony Antao
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