Rev Dr Geevarghese Panicker, noted educationist and principal of Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram, for 18 years, died on Sunday. He was 85.

He died of age-related illnesses at 9.15 a.m. at a private hospital in Kollam.

The body of Geevarghese Panicker was taken to Paranthal, his native place, on Sunday evening.   The funeral will be held at the St George Malankara Catholic Church, Paranthal, Adoor, at 2 p.m. on Monday. Catholicos Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, will lead the funeral services.

Dr Geevarghese Panicker earned his Masters degree from the Kerala University and his doctorate from the Catholic University, Washington DC. He started his teaching career as English lecturer at Mar Ivanios College. In 1959, he became the college vice-principal and two years later became principal – a post he held upto 1979.

Famous personalities like Justice J. B. Koshy, K. Jayakumar IAS, Jagathi Sreekumar, T. M. Jacob, G. Venugopal were students of Fr. Panicker.

Those 18 years were memorable ones for the college. Many of today’s important figures from different walks of life – politics to literature to art and culture – number among his students.

Geevarghese Panicker was born to K.G. Thomas Panicker and Achiyamma on March 31, 1924. After his schooling, he joined the St Aloysius Minor Seminary under the Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese. He completed the training at the Kandy Papal Seminary, Sri Lanka, and was ordained in 1949.

After his retirment from Mar Ivanios College, Geevarghese Panicker  served as rector at the St Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva, and then for two years, as rector of the St Mary’s Malankara Seminary, Thiruvananthapuram. In 1987, he took charge as dean of studies at the St Ephraem Institute, Kottayam. He was leading a retired life in Kollam in recent years.

Fr. Panicker died on the same day as his father, Thomas Panicker, did 30 years ago.

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam has been selected for the Archbishop Mar Gregorios award instituted by the alumni association of Marivanios College.

The award carries Rs. one lakh, a citation and a memento.

Kalam was chosen for the honour for his outstanding contribution to various fields including science and technology, an Association release said.

The selection was made by a jury headed by the state Director General of Police, Jacob Punnoose.

The award was instituted in memory of the late Archbishop Mar Gregorios, who was a builder of several educational and charity institutions under the Syro Malankara Catholic Church.

The rite of dedication of St. Mary’s Queen of Peace was held by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos on 7th December, 2008. Rev. Dr. Joseph Gnayalloor Remban read out the declaration, which was made by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

His Beatitude the Catholicos, celebrated the Holy Qurbono at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom at 11.30am. All the priests from the Trivandrum Major Archieparchy were the concelebrants. His Beatitude gave the concluding message of Platinum Jubilee of Trivandrum Major Archieparchy.

Thereafter, the procession of Rosary was held from Palayam St. Joseph’s Cathdral to the Basilica. Rev. Fathers, Religious Priests and Sisters, Brothers and numerous Faithful participated in this procession.

The public meeting as presided over by Shri M. Vijayakumar, the Honourable Minister of Law. His Beatitude, the Catholicos, inaugurated the public meeting. Rev. Dr. C. Joseph (Vicar of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Palayam), Rev. Dr. John V. Thadathil (Vicar of Lourd Ferona Church, Palayam), Imam Jamaludeen Mankada, Rev. Msgr. Samuel Kattukallil, Rev. Msgr. James Paravila, Rev. Dr. Antony Valiyavilayil OIC (chancellor), Rev. Dr. John Kochuthundil (Rector of Basilica), Prof. Jessy Thomas (Representative to the Basilica), Rev. Fr. Mathew Karoor (Principal, St. Mary’s School), Mr. John Mathai IAS, Mr. Jacob Punnoos (DGP) were present.

Moran Mor Cleemis Catholicos presented the first rosary from the Queen of Peace Basilica to Mr. Jacob Punnoos, DGP.