"At every stage of my life I felt as though I was making mature decisions, only to look back and realize how immature I was being." – Rooplal Michael Bissessar

On Friday, January 29, 2021, Rooplal Michael Bissessar, loving husband and father of four children, passed away at age 78; he arrived at the final stage of his life, and oh what a life it has been.

The man so fondly known as Roop, Mike, Grandpa, Mikey, Uncle Mike, Bredda, Rev, and even more names than we can recount, was born on September 19, 1942, to a master cricketeer father, Bridgelal, and an all-around talented, strong-willed mother, Sumintra. He grew up in the village of Tarouba in south Trinidad, yet found his way traveling the world and touching the lives of all he came into contact with. He was the first in his family to leave the village and attend university in Montreal, Canada, a place that always remained dear to his heart for those experiences would make him the man he became.

He indeed lived many lives (in Trinidad, United States, Canada, Grenada, and Guyana) and leaves behind his wife of almost three decades, Vidya, and his daughter Nirvana, and sons Rajesh, Ravi, and Sanjeev. Along with the grandchildren (Raya, Rianna, and Natalya), brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, his first wife, and the many cousins, second cousins, friends and fig tree relatives as he would refer to them as, the impact he had leaves an indelible legacy that shall live on.

He loved music, especially his Indian chunes, that he would blast loudly for all the neighbors in his Trinidad home to hear; and he loved social gatherings. He cared deeply about people, and had a calm way at looking at life through a lens focused on the little things that mattered, and would always remind people to not be so bothered by the things that don't really matter. He was a deceptively good poker player, an excellent amateur golfer, a braggadocious ladies man, a two-step dancer, and had the wit that could charm even the most clamed up chip-chip of a woman. His words always had double meanings, and his exaggerations were always intentional for he loved dramatic effect. He was not much of a drinker, but enjoyed sipping on an ice-cubed glass of Grand Marnier, and telling stories about his bar tending days in his 20s at the World Expo in Canada.

He loved watching football, especially his Argentinian faves Messi and Maradona, and never stopped following his cricket teams, even though he wished he was at the test matches and licking up some pelau and liming with his long-time friends. He loved the ocean and was a poet at heart. In his early years, he was passionate about reading and in his latter years he wrote many beautiful stories and anecdotes of his experiences. But his love of reading and his undying quest for knowledge shone brightest when he played trivia games, completed crossword puzzles, or would baffle everyone by knowing almost all the questions on the game show Jeopardy.

He was so bright, so patient, so ever evolving, and his life will always be remembered by the future generations that he paved the way for. When you think of him, instead of raising a glass of some beverage, have an ice cream instead; rum n' raisin, coconut, chocolate, vanilla, soursop, it doesn't matter. What matters is that he insisted there's always room for some ice cream in the end. Always room for something sweet.

Topic: Funeral Services of Rooplal Michael Bissessar
Time: Feb 4, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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