A cherished couple remembered with gratitude
Dr. Robert Grant Sourjah departed to the realms above wrapped in his old Trinity College blazer one year ago on his 95th b’day.
On this same day he had faced the ordeal of a driving test with much trepidation, easily convincing the examiner that he was 95 years young. He got the licence renewed for the year ahead.
Returning home triumphantly, eager to answer the customary avalanche of birthday greetings, he eased himself into a chair by the phone, and to the great dismay of his family, collapsed instantly.
The son of a surgeon, Robert had it all ----a privileged lifestyle, charm and good looks. He was educated in the “best school of all”, performing well both in his studies and in sports. He went down in the annals of Trinity history as the legendary ruggerite who captained the team for the first ever Bradby rugger match played against Royal College.
Medical students of that era recount how heads turned when the dashing young Robert as a Senior Registrar accompanied Prof. P.B Fernando down the corridors of the Colombo General Hospital.
But Robert had eyes only for a girl in Kandy, the tall and beautiful Inez Jackson- -Smale.
Their blissful and harmonious wedded life lasted 65 activity -filled years. Inez’s mother was a devout Christian who lived a selfless life of service to others. Friends with their kith and kin were always welcome to view the annual Kandy Perahera from their home on Ward Street.
Inez’s mother’s generosity of spirit had rubbed off on her daughter making her the perfect partner for a compassionate and dedicated doctor.
In all those years that Robert served in out-station hospitals and ultimately Colombo, he was loved by his patients, being a patient listener and an excellent physician with a healing touch.
Returning home after a hard day’s work Robert would be ready to join in the fun that his lovely wife Inez had organised for the evening. She always entertained in great style - throwing a dinner party for 100 guests was child’s play for her. The passage of years did not diminish their enthusiasm for entertaining, even after they migrated “Down Under”. Always an excellent cook, she could transform even the humble jak seed to a delectable dish.
Robert never severed his umbilical attachment to his alma mater, Trinity. For long years he served on the school Board of Governors and his abiding interest in Trinity and Trinitians of all ages never waned. He gifted his cubs, Rohan and Lalin to Trinity. They grew into two full-blown sports ‘Lions’. Rohan emulated his father and captained the rugger team. After higher studies in the States, Rohan migrated to Sydney, Australia where he set up home with his wife and two children. Robert and Inez joined them after retirement. The younger son built his nest in Texas with his wife and daughter.
In Sydney Robert founded the “Trinity family” with himself as patron. The Trinitians were entertained in style by the Sourjahs in their lovely home in the suburbs. They wined, dined and danced in typical Trinity bonhomie.
Robert and Inez together with the families of Lalin and Rohan, would unfailingly make an annual trek to Sri Lanka, to meet Inez’s sister Jeanne in Kandy and their friends. Heavy packages preceded them, laden with clothes and exotic items of food for distribution among their friends. They always acted with sincerity and unbelievable generosity.
Robert’s inheritance, the ancestral house and land in Welimada was distributed among landless villagers of the area. This he opted to do while he lived in a rented house—that sums up Robert.
Inez until her sudden demise, would sew literally hundreds of outfits for orphanages here and the shipments would come to Sri Lanka regularly. They were tight lipped about their acts of charity.
Inez passed away peacefully in September this year while watching TV just two days before Robert’s first death anniversary.
On a personal note, Robert and Inez were much more than sincere friends to us. Apart from the smart outfits and birthday cakes Inez made for our children they were our anchor in turbulent times. Robert had a solution for all problems. When my son was three years old and asthmatic----Robert got all school rules bent to admit him to Trinity. His attention was diverted and his daytime attacks of asthma miraculously ceased. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. May Robert and Inez enjoy the eternal peace and happiness that they deserve with their Maker in their celestial abode.