Joe Fernandis, father of hockey Olympian Mervyn and a former player who played for the erstwhile Bombay State in the nationals, passed away here early today, according to sources close to the family.
Fernandis, who hails from Khadki in Pune, had also played for leading teams, including the famed Lusitanians Sport Club and Goan Sport in the 1950s. He was later employed with Ordnance Factory Ambernath and MPF and played for both teams.
He was a pioneer in promoting hockey in Ambernath and encouraging youngsters to take up the sport and also instrumental in inspiring his son to play the game and shaping his career.
He is survived by son Mervyn, a member of the last Indian hockey team to strike gold at the Olympic Games in 1980 at Moscow, daughter Lorraine and their families.
The funeral is to be held tomorrow.
