ROLAND BRAZ FRANCIS DIAS

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ROLAND BRAZ FRANCIS DIAS Roland was born on May 17, 1932, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's then capital city. His parents immigrated there from Goa, when it was still an overseas territory of Portugal, today a state of India on its Arabian seacoast. The Portuguese cultural influence that they brought to Tanzania meant that Roland and his siblings were raised as Roman Catholics. Roland remained a devout Catholic throughout his life. His faith never wavered. Roland was given a diverse education. After elementary schooling in Tanzania, his parents sent him and his brother Gilbert to Mumbai for secondary education. After returning to his family in Tanzania, he chose a profession. Unlike his brothers, who chose careers in medicine and the priesthood, Roland chose law. At 20 he moved to London, where he set out upon a career at the Bar, working to support himself while studying at the Inns of Court. Near the end of his legal studies Roland met his much loved future wife, Sigrid Schmidt, a student from Germany also in London pursuing her education. At the Hilary call ceremony on February 10, 1959, Roland was called to the Bar of England and Wales and became a full member of The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. At 28, with his professional qualification in hand, Roland returned to Tanzania and was called to its Bar. He settled in the city of Mbeya, where he and Sigrid were married on June 24, 1961. During their halcyon years in Mbeya, their cherished daughters, Debbie and Manuela were born. In his practice as a young barrister, Roland undertook all manner of cases, including criminal matters that ranged from misdemeanors to murders and other capital offences. This was at a time when the lash and the death penalty were not just in the cards; those sentences were commonplace. Yet Roland thrived under that pressure. However, by 1967 political unrest led Roland and Sigrid to leave Tanzania. They stayed briefly in Stuttgart, Germany, the seat of Sigrid's family, before making the journey to Canada. After some time in Toronto, by 1968 the family was well settled in Winnipeg. Roland articled with the firm Aikins, MacAulay & Thorvaldson, was called to the Manitoba Bar and became a member of the firm in 1969. Thereafter he became a partner in the firm and was there for almost 27 years. During those years he and Sigrid made life-long friendships. Roland practiced as a solicitor, and he enjoyed the respect and affection of his clients and fellow lawyers. Throughout his years at the Aikins firm he was characteristically kind to the firm's young lawyers and support staff. He treated them as equals and not as subservient. After Roland retired from the practice of law at 62, he and Sigrid divided their time among their home in Winnipeg, their cottage in Belair, MB, and homes they rented on the coast of Mexico during winter months. Retirement suited Roland. He relished the company of friends and family. He loved to travel. He also enjoyed meeting and helping new people. In Mexico, he discovered a new vocation. Each winter he taught English to impoverished children. After doing that for more than a decade, a stroke put an end to his extended Mexican sojourns. Roland faced adversities with quiet strength and determination. After the stroke he kept calm and carried on. He worked daily at regaining his independence, rejecting any offers of assistance that might impede the progress of his rehabilitation. He was fully committed to doing things for himself. Roland was a compassionate, gentle soul, but he was not soft. He was a man of immutable integrity and a discerning judge of character. He was a consummate gentleman, generous of spirit and a loyal friend. Now add to all that an appreciation for the finer things in life and a mischievous sense of humour. That was Roland. Roland spent the last few years at Heritage Lodge and died at 84 on May 17, 2017. His was a life well lived, worthy of remembrance and celebration. Roland was predeceased by his daughter Manuela, his brothers Fr. Gilbert and Dr. Stan, and his sister Elsie. He is survived by his wife, Sigrid, his daughter Debbie of London, England, and his sister Monica. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., at Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd., Winnipeg, MB. Msgr. Maurice Comeault will officiate.
Publish Date: Jun 10, 2017

ROLAND BRAZ FRANCIS DIAS May 17, 1932 - March 16, 2017 A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 15, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., at Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd., Winnipeg, MB. Msgr Maurice Comeault will officiate. Longer obituary to follow next Saturday.

Publish Date: Jun 3, 2017

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 10, 2017