The philanthropic president

Died: Kersey Jivanji Jasavala, 88, generous benefactor and former president of the Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe (ZTFE), on November 9, 2015 in London.
The home of Kersey and Silloo Jasavala was "the first port of call for many new arrivals to the UK, especially those who escaped the violent Zanzibar revolution. Kersey Uncle, similar to Silloo Aunty, was a very kind-hearted person. But unlike Silloo Aunty, Kersey Uncle was a ‘big softy,’” noted a tribute to their predecessor by ZTFE president Malcolm Deboo and past presidents Dorab Mistry and Rusi Dalal.

Kersey and Silloo Jasavala: considerable contribution to the community

At the ZTFE sesquicentennial celebrations in 2011, the couple were presented the commemorative medallion for their services to the London community by Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. It was during Kersey’s presidentship that the Second World Zoroastrian Youth Congress was held in London in 1997, and during his trusteeship that the Eighth World Zoroastrian Congress was held in 2005, the couple having financially contributed to both these events. First elected to the ZTFE managing committee in 1986, Kersey had subsequently served as honorary house secretary, social secretary and vice president before being elected president in 1992.
Dedicated ZTFE volunteers, Kersey and Silloo (who predeceased him by six months) had arrived in London in 1963 and served on the House Committee and participated in several fund-raising Parsi nataks. When Kersey was the ZTFE social secretary at the Zoroastrian House, the couple would organize successful Navroz functions with 700 persons dining over five sittings. Over the years the couple had donated magnanimously to other ZTFE projects including the New Premises Fund, Brookwood Bungli extension and the Zoroastrian Centre in Harrow.
"In 1995 when I became chairman of the New Premises Steering Committee I received a phone call from Kersey giving me encouragement and advice and the full support of his family. There was never a fund-raising event where Silloo and Kersey and (son) Paoorooshasp were not present and contributing substantially in money and in kind,” acknowledged Mistry. He further added, "Kersey was a person who always put community above self and work above recognition. He was almost shy when it came to recognition. He always had a word of encouragement and would send his thanks and good wishes in the form of a telex or an email dictated by him… It was always a joy to read those messages.”
To hear Kersey say "Well done,” after his first glimpse of the renovated Zoroastrian Centre meant a lot to Mistry who recalled, "Kersey was involved in all the major decisions taken during those times. In that sense he was a true builder of the modern ZTFE and to me, a tower of strength. Yet his humility and simplicity were legendary. I never heard him boast about anything despite the fact that his contributions were titanic.”
In 2005 Kersey was elected honorary member of the ZTFE, "the highest honor that the ZTFE can bestow (see "ZTFE’s honoraries,” Parsiana, February 7, 2006).” He along with three others — Ervads Jal Karkaria and Rustom Bhedwar, and Shahrokh Shahrokh had been recommended by the managing committee for having met the criteria by rendering "meritorious services to the community in religious, social, economic or intellectual advancement of the community or whose public services and achievements have reflected exceptional credit on the community.” The special general body meeting had subsequently elected these four as honorary members by a three-fourths majority.
"Kersey and Silloo were very active and stalwart supporters of the Zoroastrians of South London (ZSL) from the beginning and attended all the functions (until incapacitated)” of the nearly 30-year-old organization that has over 200 Life and Ordinary members, wrote chairman Behram Kapadia. Former ZSL chairperson Gul Billimoria recalled Kersey playing the lead role and Silloo, the supportive one in several of the Parsi comedies performed for members of their own and sister communities.
The couple donated money to several community projects in Zanzibar and India, particularly Udvada. Born in Valsad, Kersey had spent his early years in Zanzibar when his parents migrated there. Following his graduation in science from Bombay’s St Xavier’s College, he returned to Zanzibar to serve as a science teacher. He was also an active Scoutmaster in Zanzibar. Once he relocated to London he served at the Burntwood Secondary School. There he was motivated to obtain his MEd after which he was promoted as head of the department at Burntwood and remained with this institution until his retirement.
Over 200 members of the London communityattended the uthamna prayers at the Zoroastrian Centre for Kersey who was cremated at Putney Vale Crematorium, South London.
The popular past president is survived by his son Paoorooshasp, brother Yazdi and sister Homai Rusi Mowji.