In Memoriam 1992-1997/Thomas Sousa
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THOMAS SOUSA 1924—1997
homas Sousa was born on April 29,
1924, in Mansfield, Ohio. He was the oldest of four children, having one sister and two brothers. He went to college in Wisconsin where he first heard about the Bahá’í Faith. The principle of unity in diversity particularly attracted him, and he was confirmed a Bahá’í sometime about 1946.
He went to Portugal as a Fulbright Scholar but could not openly teach the Faith there. He received a master’s degree in Portuguese and a doctorate in Spanish, and he assisted with translations of Bahá’í books.
Tom’s Bahá’í service included membership on several Local Spiritual Assemblies. He helped re—form the Assembly in Concord, New Hampshire, which helped to fulfill the Ten Year Crusade goal of having Assemblies in all of the state capitals. Many times he was elected as a delegate to the National Convention from Massachusetts, and he was appointed as an assistant to an Auxiliary Board member in New Hampshire. He also served on the Council of the Green Acre Bahá’í School and taught classes there.
Tom took many people into his home to help them. At one time there was an Ethiopian, three Iraqis, a Persian, and three Italians living with him. The neighbors asked him to put Flags in the yard so they would know the countries of the people staying with him.
"Hie Sousa family went on pilgrimage in 1972, Tom’s father and stepmother having become Bahá’ís.
On july 8, 1985, after retiring, Tom pioneered to Puerto Rico. He served on the teaching and newsletter committees, as
well as on his Local Spiritual Assembly. His
daughter, Katya, joined him, pioneering there for a short time. The InterAmerican University encouraged him to come out of retirement, and he worked there for several years until his health deteriorated.
His spirit was joyously freed from its cage in the world of creation to continue his eternal journey on March 4, 1997. A few days later the National Assembly received the following message:
'Ihe Universal House ofjustice was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Thomas Sousa, long-time pioneer in Puerto Rico, whose years of faithful and devoted service will be long remembered. Kindly convey to his family and friends the condolences of the House of Justice and assure them of its fervent supplications at the Divine Threshold for the progress of his soul throughout
the worlds of God.
Department of the Secretariat March 7, 1997
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Puerto Rico established a project to donate books in Dr. Sousa’s name to the Arecibo campus library of the IntetAmerican University of Puerto Rico.
Submitted by 7%? National Spiritual Assemély of the Ba/Jd’z’: afPuerta Rico