ANTHONY PANTIN 1929-2000

PANTIN DIES IN HIS SLEEP

By Alva Viarruel

Express

March 13, 2000

Page 3

Archbishop Anthony Pantin, 70, read from the Psalms, said his last prayer, and went to bed on Saturday night.

The next morning, he was found lying still on his side, his body cold, eyes shut.

He had died of acute heart failure in his sleep.

No one knew, not even he, that two months ago he had suffered a minor heart attack.

It took the pathologist to find the scar on the enlarged heart.

Now the Roman Catholic Church, in its Year of Jubilee celebrations, is in mourning.

In one week's time, March 19, Pantin would have celebrated the 32^nd anniversary of his ordination as Archbishop of the Diocese of Port of Spain.

It was shortly after 8 a.m. yesterday that Vicar General Fr. Christian Pereira found the Archbishop dead in his room on the northeastern upper floor of Archbishop House, Queen's Park West.

Pereira told reporters outside the residence that he had been called to the house by Pantin's brother Michael and sister, Sr. Rosa Pantin.

Both had been unsuccessful in getting into the Archbishop's room, which was locked.

Pantin's housekeeper Ada Mars had summoned Michael Pantin when the Archbishop didn't respond to her wake-up call at 7.15 a.m.

Pereira said Pantin, who "normally gets up early', had asked to be awakened at that time because he wanted to rest a little longer before officiating at a mass observing the Tenth Covenant Day at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 9 a.m.

Earlier on Saturday night, Pereira said Pantin was saddened by news of the death of a close friend, Fr. Jim Irwin, in Boston, USA.

Pereira said when he got to the house he had to climb over a door to the back "like a burglar" to get into the room.

"There was no sign of a struggle or disruption so I assume he died peacefully."

Pantin's personal physicians, Dr. Richard Clarke and Dr. Gerard Farfan, were immediately called.

They concluded that he had died around 5 a.m. and ordered the removal of his body to the mortuary of the Port of Spain General Hospital.

There, pathologist Dr. Neville Jankey discovered that Pantin had sustained a minor heart attack two months ago, which had apparently gone undetected.

Jankey found that Pantin's heart was enlarged and concluded that he died from an acute left ventricular failure.

Pereira said news of Pantin's death "came as a great shock to all of us who were close to him, as up to (Saturday) he seemed very well and cheerful. He spoke to several of his friends, including his secretary, June Gonsalves, who reminded him that he had promised to continue writing his autobiography."

Pereira said Pantin was "making good progress, improving", since having major surgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, on January 14.

He had scheduled a return visit to the hospital on April 24.

Pantin last conducted mass in the chapel at Archbishop's House on Saturday morning.

The chapel was opened for a short memorial-like mass which began around 11.30 a.m. yesterday, with Fr. Paschal Tiernan officiating.

Ag. Prime Minister Lindsay Gillette, Port of Spain Mayor John Rahael, several nuns, friends and relatives who had gone to Archbishop's House were in attendance.

Pereira described the mood at the residence as one of "sadness, pain, and anguish." The Pantin family was "holding together" he said. A nine-night vigil of the faithful began at the house from last night.

Pereira said the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio, the Most Rev. Eugenio Sbarbaro, the Pope's representative to the region, and his secretary Fr. Angelo Accattino both visited Archbishop's House on learning of Pantin's death.

President Arthur NR Robinson also conveyed his sentiments, as did Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, who sent his condolences through Gillette.

Pereira said, "The protocol of the church requires that when a bishop died suddenly, the College of Consultors, composed of senior clergy and religious superiors must meet to appoint an Administrator of the diocese (Vicar Capitula), until a new bishop is appointed by the Holy Father (the Pope)."

The consultors are expected to meet today, following which funeral arrangements will be announced.

The process of selection of a new bishop can be lengthy. It took a year and a half to appoint Pantin to the post after the death of Finbar Ryan.

Pantin himself noted last year that there was no question of "lobbying" for the approved candidates. The nominees have to be whittled down to a final three before selection via a detailed questionnaire to members of the College of Consultors.

All previous bishops have been buried in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain, but water has been seeping in for some years and repairs may have to be undertaken.

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