Page 49 - The Old Ratcliffian 2011

The Old Ratcliffan 2011 | Obituaries During this period and beyond, he He was a dear and familiar sight Winston Spencer Churchill was a great proved how eminently talented and around and about Kemp Town in hero for our father. He once met him creative he was with his hands. He Brighton and regularly described at a mess dinner as a young officer was ambi dextrous and could draw himself as an Ancient Briton. He and, as someone said at this great competently with right and left hands took a great and curious interest in statesman’s funeral: “The last petals alike. A brilliant skill for a technical people at large, whom he loved, and have fallen of one of the beautiful drawing teacher. He could design and he equally endeared himself to them. roses of Old England.” create almost anything. He congratulated himself that he had escaped what he called, ‘GSD’ That is true of my father and of many As an adult, he had a unique ability as (Galloping Senile Dementia), although of his wartime generation, the likes he knew how to get into a child’s world, one of his last valiant battles was to of which we really shall not see again. into which he descended with child-like care with absolute devotion for his wife On the other hand, in the words of gusto and enthusiasm. Churchill, Michael might also have with this very condition, which he did He was a real true ‘dad’ to Annette, well into his eighties. said of himself: “I am ready to meet my maker, but whether my maker Madeline and Peter, the most loving Following a massive stroke rather is prepared to meet me is another father and, latterly, grandfather anyone aptly in church, Michael died on the matter”. could wish for, and he graced us with 30th August, on the same date as his his presence well into our own middle beloved sister Mary, who died three Annette Radford age. As a ‘bon viveur’ he would have years ago, and he departs on a vast Eldest daughter advised anyone to ‘suck the orange dry’ wave of love and affection. which was the creed for his own long life right until the end. Rimas Anelauskas Old Ratcliffian 1956-61 28th September 1944-30th September 2011 local Catholic school. In 1955, Rimas years, Rimas worked hard at his career, joined his brother, Vincas, at Ratcliffe. enabling Ruta to focus on being a full- An active student and an athlete, Rimas time mother. Rimas also maintained played rugby and cricket and was a a balance between work and family, member of the school’s Combined taking an active role in his children’s Cadet Force. In addition to activities activities, including scouting, sport and at Ratcliffe, Rimas was very active in education. the Lithuanian Scouts, achieving a After a successful career of 33 years scouting rank of ‘Vytis’. He attended many summer scouting camps at the at the Gas Company, Rimas took early Lithuanian ‘Sodyba’ in Headly Park. retirement in 1998. While staying active in his field as a consultant, In 1961, Rimas and his family he and Ruta took time to enjoy the emigrated from England to America. benefits of retirement. They vacationed After briefly living in Worcester, around the world, visiting countries Massachusetts, the family relocated such as Lithuania, England, Greece, to Los Angeles. Graduating in 1966 Turkey, Egypt, Mexico and other with a Bachelor of Science degree in nations across the globe. Electrical Engineering at the age of 21, Rimas immediately began his career at In 2002, Rimas was deeply saddened the Southern California Gas Company, to learn that Ruta had developed pancreatic cancer, and was given only as a commercial and industrial sale engineer. He worked in a leadership months to live. Rimas did all that he capacity on numerous high-profile could to help Ruta succeed in beating projects within the company, her illness. With Rimas at her side, she Rimas Anelauskas was in born to representing his profession with great survived for over six years. Vytautas and Mikase Anelauskas on pride and enthusiasm. After Ruta’s death in 2008, Rimas, 28th September 1944 in Seeburg, In 1977, Rimas married Ruta Mockus, although heartbroken, continued to Germany. Faced with the imminent his wife of 32 years. Their eldest son, inspire his family and friends through threat of Soviet occupation during his energetic spirit, sense of humour World War II, the Anelauskas family Marius, was born in 1980. In 1983, and many gestures of kindness. they were blessed with a second son, was forced to flee their native Lithuania only two weeks prior to Rimas’ birth. Audrius, who tragically passed away May he rest in the peace of the Lord. from illness that same year. Whilst this After living in DP camps in Germany experience weighed heavily on their Marius Anelauskas for several years, Rimas and his family hearts, Rimas and Ruta were overjoyed Son eventually settled in Leicester in 1948. when their third son, Danius, was born Rimas began his early education in a in 1984. 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