Former mayor Eunice Britto passes away

Former mayor of Mangaluru Eunice Marie Britto passed away in a hospital on Wednesday. She was 79.

The first woman to don the mayor’s seat (without any reservation) in Mangaluru, it was during her term that the Mangalore Municipal Council was upgraded to Corporation status.

Born on November 27, 1936, Eunice was the fourth of eight children of John Charles and Mary Nathalia Mathias. Though born at Bejai in the City, her father being a coffee planter, Eunice’s pre-marital life involved stays in Chikkamagaluru and Bengaluru. While she studied up to SSLC in Urwa school and then at St Joseph’s Convent in Chikkamagaluru, she pursued college (B.Sc) at Mount Carmel, Bengaluru and B.Ed from at St Ann’s College in Mangaluru in 1957.

Eunice did MSW from Roshni Nilaya and worked there as a lecturer from 1973 to 1983.
She contested on Congress ticket from Falnir ward, where she resided till her death – next to Marjil Convent complex. In her first term itself, when the city was raised to the status of Corporation, she became MMC’s Deputy Mayor and in the second term, 1993 – 1994, she became the Mayor.

As mayor, Eunice was instrumental in widening and strengthening the arterial roads in the central business district. She introduced MMC’s toll-free Helpline (106) for complaints and inquiries, which continues to function. She interacted with DANIDA, the Danish Aid Agency for improving drainage and other public utility systems. Vishwas, an organisation providing assistance to senior citizens was functioning from her house since 1998 until it shifted to its own premises near Valencia Church.

Her husband Christopher George Britto was serving as District Development Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner, when he passed away due to cardiac arrest in 1986.

She is survived by two daughters, a son and six grandchildren. Her funeral ceremony will be held at Milagres church at 10.30 am.