Overseas:

Condolence messages from Peniel Home and Adoor Church 

We would like to offer our heartfelt condolences to Vinoo’s dear family.  It was very saddening to hear of the incident, especially the manner in which it took place.  Our pastors, believers, relatives, and friends share your grief and extend their condolences. 

Vinoo will always be remembered for the genuine love and affection he offered us.  He was a rare personality blessed with such a pure heart and will to do God’s work.  Although times are rough, it is comforting to know that our faith in God will hold us together as a family.  We have firm assurance that we will meet our dearest Vinoo on the beautiful shores of eternity. 

- From your beloved family in Adoor.  

“I am the resurrection and life.  He that believeth in me, though he is dead yet shall he live.”  John 11:25 

We have no words to give comfort to the family for the demise of our dear Vinoo.  But the word of God will comfort all family members with grieving hearts.  We convey our heartfelt condolences to all who are dearest to Vinoo.  On the day of the Lord, we will meet him on the beautiful shores of heaven.

University of Windsor:

Sheetal Saraf

I knew Vinoo from University of Windsor. At first I found him shy and reserved, but as i got to know him, i thought that he was what you call a true friend. There are so many good memories of Vinoo that its just hard to choose one. There was always something that he did which was really sweet… He cared about all his friends very deeply. Vinoo will be greatly missed by everyone. May his soul rest in peace.

Sheetal 

Farooq Hussain

Vinoo deserves to be called so much more than a friend. He was my 'dad' back in university ...he was the Big Daddy ...he was the with whom you could joke about everything and even when you make the corniest joke he would laugh so hard ... that smile .. that laughter ....  wow . Vinoo and I used to talk a lot even especially when he would come down to the basement late night and he would talk about how he loves to go to church when he goes back home and he would talk about all these planes and he knew their numbers by heart ... me having very limited knowledge about planes would just nod my head and be in awe as to how much he knew about planes and flying…

I mean we did call him Big Daddy but in a way it was so appropriate since he cared for all his friends so deeply and honestly ... like a father.

Even as I write this I keep imagining Vinoo with his big Nike ACG shoes and stone washed jeans and his big jacket with his big glasses and friendly and almost goofy grin ..... I imagine him and me getting ready to get to the classes walking along in the snow .... on our way back from the class we would stop by the computer centre to check our emails and then off on our way to the student centre for a really good philly steak sandwich ..me and him both loved that sandwich. That's the only way I can remember Vinoo .. the best companion  to be around ..he loved to do what you loved to do ... he would laugh with you when u laughed and listen to you when you wanted to be listened to ..he was the most  unselfish person I have ever known.

My deepest condolences to the Abraham family .... I can only feel very little of what you must be feeling ...and I know that if my heart is feeling so heavy at the loss of Vinoo then yours must be much, much heavier. Vinoo was the most genuine and loving friend I have ever known and I am so sure that he got this these traits from the loving and caring family that he has left behind.

I wish I could be there for you at the funeral but as I am in Pakistan at the moment I won't able to make it on time. I wish we had more time buddy, I really, truely do ....

I love you Vinoo and may God keep you safe in heaven. I hope we meet up there someday and laugh it off like the good old days.

Your 'Beta' ,
Farooq.

Alan Lupsha

For over 3 years at the University of Windsor, Vinoo was our big brother. Living together in one big house, we all loved him and always called him our "big teddy bear". He let us tap him on his tummy, he was always calm and compassionate, solving problems at what he proudly called "DA HOUSE".  I was the only non Desi person in our group, and Vinoo always accepted my as a brother, invited me to stay over at his parents' house, and took me to church, which was a very wonderful experience. Vinoo will forever remain in my heart, as the loving brother with a big smile on his face.

My condoleances to Vinoo's family,

Alan Lupsha

Nameer Rahman

I was not happy when I first met Vinoo having been forced to change rooms from the second floor to the third floor of Cody Hall early in the fall semester of 98. I had been moved without warning by the RA and so Vinoo and I met under sudden and unexpected circumstances. For a month into the move, Vinoo and I regarded each other suspiciously as we clung to our respective halves of our room trying to figure out what we had “in this new thing we found” (Bruce Springsteen)

My misgivings (and hopefully his too) quickly disappeared as we would change each night and slip into out respective beds, turn off the lights and talk. During those early days we would only talk to each other across the room and in the darkness.

Vinoo made for a wonderful start to my experiences in Canada. I quickly found out how we had in common ranging from our mutual love of aircraft to our private attempts at art, usually involving aircraft. In Vinoo’s company I was never short of laughter and good times. As we graduated to “daytime” conversations we’d joke about how we would split the room into our respective halves; he’d have to ask me for permission to open the door but I’d have to ask for his to close the door. I’d joke about how what hair he lacked on top he made up on the rest of his body. I will never forget the way he would look at me with mock seriousness say, “shut up!”  In turn he would rib me semi-seriously about my messiness, a constant source of frustration for him.

When I was homesick Vinoo would share his mother’s home-cooked meals with me, which were heaven-sent for me. That year Vinoo took a picture of my first Canadian winter, a huge event for me.

Vinoo made that year magical for me. I still remember the night before he left, we drove around with a bunch of friends into the wee hours of the morning and went down to the “peace fountain” to goof around like the silly frosh that we were. But we were young then and the residence life never afforded us any sleep anyways.

Now Vinoo is gone and I am forced to contemplate the measure of a man, his legacy, for a life cut far too short.

What is the measure of a man?

When all is said and done, we are left with the deeds and, far too often nowadays, the misdeeds of a man the sum total of which is his measure. When all is said and done we forget the bad and pull out the good till the process becomes a cliché, to be repeated over and over again.

But Vinoo never was and never will be a cliché.

So what is the measure of Vinoo?

Measure Vinoo against his kindness as he took to care of me for a week straight when I had the flu.

Measure Vinoo against his friendship that drew so many wonderful people to him.

Measure Vinoo against the sadness of my parents who wanted to meet the man who kept me on the straight and narrow when I was out of their reach.

Measure Vinoo against the emptiness in my heart.

In a world obsessed with glory, Vinoo’s legacy is not of statues and grandeur. His legacy is greater. It lies within the bonds of friendship and human decency that we all formed when we met him. We are his collective legacy, we are the measure of Vinoo. Do him justice and honour him with the same grace, dignity and joyfulness in your thoughts and actions that he infused in his. And we will all be richer for it. 

Vinoo my friend, safari salaama…

We will meet again one day,

Your friend,

Jim Tufford, Coordinator, Brampton Flight College

Victor Souza

The Souza family, would like to express our deepest sympathy to the family and relatives of Vinoo Abraham. We are shocked to hear the sad news and we share your grief as parents during this difficult time. 

Vinoo died doing what he loved best, and we are sure he would like you all to remember that he died living his dream.  

We regret that we never got to meet Vinoo personally, as our son Russell who is just 13 years old, has just joined the Brampton Flying Club and was in the summer youth flying program in late July 2006. My son like Vinoo also dreams to be an aspiring pilot someday, and as parents we support his dream with faith and destiny in God's hands.

Finally, please don't mourn the loss of Vinoo, but rather celebrate his achievements during his short life. Vinoo was a "Hero" who never feared death, and will sadly be missed. 

May God bless his soul, may he rest in peace and may his family get the strength to continue, and to hold fond memories of their loving son. 

Once again our Deepest Sympathies to family, friends and relatives. 

The Souza Family.