Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Those who knew him remember Hilary as a jovial person. Though senior in age to us, he was one of the few people around who could effortlessly gel and mix with just about everyone. Up until a few years ago, he was a regular at the old Indoor Stadium at Campal, playing badminton almost every single day, until he moved back to football.
It needs to be recalled that in his younger days, Hilario, popularly called Hilary by family and friends, was a very agile goalkeeper and played at a decent club level. Besides being a regular in badminton and football, Hilary was a very active organizer. He frequently took time out from his business schedule to be involved in organizing tournaments and events not only for the Veterans but also for young talents.
In Veterans, he would not miss a single tournament, travelling not only within Goa but representing Goa at the Veterans Nationals outside Goa whenever the opportunity arose. When Goa hosted the Nationals, he won two medals in the Veterans category, earning him the honour of representing India at the BWF World Masters in Spain. Unfortunately, he had to drop out due to COVID-related restrictions at that time.
When S.C. Jamir was the Governor of Goa and came to the stadium to play badminton, Hilary was his particular favourite. This led to a few memorable invitations to the Raj Bhavan along with the rest of the Evening Group. Truly unforgettable experiences!
He used to be one of our core organizing members and also supported other games like table tennis, besides badminton and football. In PBC, he held various positions such as Vice President or Advisor from time to time. As a mark of appreciation, it was a privilege for the clubs when they felicitated him for his momentous work and services to sports.
A very decent person and a wonderful host, the evening badminton group will fondly recall the wonderful memories we shared together at various outings, tournaments, and picnics. There are many memories to cherish. On one occasion, he hosted us at his residence in Porvorim during a World Cup Football match between England and Portugal. We all backed England, while Hilary, the odd one out, backed Portugal. Hilary had the last laugh that day when Portugal eventually won on penalties.
The delicious cereal, painstakingly prepared by his wife, along with many other delicacies, delighted our taste buds, and the wonderful moments which have touched our hearts over the last few decades, giving us many more unforgettable memories.
We are saddened to share that our club and badminton colleague, and dear friend, Hilary, passed away last night. RIP Dear Hilary, you will be fondly remembered and missed. We extend our deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time. May they find comfort in the cherished memories and the fond legacy he leaves behind.
