Report and pics from Rajtilak Naik
Daijiworld Media Network - Goa (MB)

Panaji, Oct 1: Goa's multifaceted gem Lucio Miranda passed away on September 28, 2007, leaving behind the kind influence only he could have had on Goa and the Goans.

Lucio Miranda who was in his early 70's and who originally hailed from Loutolim, Salcete, South Goa, passed away in sleep at his residence at Altinho, Panaji.

Lucio Miranda along with his unbounded capacity and creativity in the field of architecture, was also a noted musician-vocalist and has many immortal numbers to his credit including "Malaguena". He had staged musical shows with well-known musicians and singers to the likes of Padma Shri Remo Fernandes and the celebrated Valadares sisters.

Lucio Miranda will be remembered for his equally divided talents in both music and architecture. He had designed some of the finest resorts in the state which include The Sun Village and others and never to forget the Chapel of the Holy Souls at Siridao which was built in 1973. 

Lucio Miranda never went after cheap publicity and opted to remain in his very own creative world like a real artist. He had music running in his veins and the concept of architecture in his blood.

The funeral mass was held in the St Inez Church in Panaji and his mortal remains were laid to eternal rest in the St Inez cemetery on Sunday.

The funeral Mass was attended, along with the members of the Miranda family, by various well-known personalities from different areas which included speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly and former chief minister Pratap Singh Rane, industrialist Dattaraj Salgaonkar, chairman of the Goa Planning Board Dr Wilfred D'Souza, world renowned cartoonist Mario Miranda, former bureaucrat Albano Couto, vice president of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry Cesar Menezes, Dr Justice (retd) E S D’Silva, delegate of Fundacao Oriente in India Dr Paulo Varela Gomes, delegate of Fundacao Cidade de Lisboa in India Dr Jorge Fernandes and noted construction magnate Victor Albuquerque'

Salgaocar, in his brief speech before the service said that an encounter with Lucio was a rich and fulfilling experience. “Lucio was a star in the constellation of the Miranda family members of Loutolim,” he added.

Speaking further, Salgaocar said that music ran in the veins of Lucio. “Lucio introduced a new dimension to the Goan architecture,” he said “and while doing so, song and music did not leave him.”

Salgaocar also maintained that the architecture of Lucio was as much pleasing to the eyes as his music was to the ears.

Lucio, who sang alongside well-known music greats like Remo and the Valadares sisters, had gained immense popularity, especially for rendering Portuguese ‘Fado’, true to its original style. He had also conceptualized a number of architectural projects which have today become landmarks.

(with additional inputs from Navhind Times)