Chacko K Poovathumkal

Mr. Chacko Poovathumkal passed away at his residence in Florida on Thursday, November 12th, 2020, at the age of 91. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary (Kanjirathumkal, Monippally);his three children, Prasad (married to Emily, Kandarappillil, Kuruppanthara), Prabha (married to George Winny, Mattathilparambil, Neerikad), Pramela (married to Babu Ittoop, Kanjirathinkal, Piravom); his 8 grandchildren, Serena (married to Michael Herpy) and Anita (married to Tony Kottoor), Jeffrey, Joshua, and Grace Winny, Regina (married to Ted Tomichen), Thomas, and Matthew Ittoop; his 4 great-grandchildren, Luke and John Herpy, Asher Tomichen, Rose Kottoor.

He grew up in Keezhoor in Kerala, middle child of Kuriako and Anna. His older brother was the late Chandy (married to the late Mariamma Kalayil). His younger sister is Mary (married to the late Kurian Karappillil).

After he earned a B.Sc. degree from Madras University in 1952, he began his career as a science teacher at St. Michael’s High School in Kaduthuruthy. After a few months, he was appointed to be a teacher in a government high school in Thalayolapprambu. He was very active in the community. With his efforts, a public library was established in Keezhoor. He was also instrumental in the development of many local roads in Keezhoor.

After he was married and had two children, he endeavored to come to the United States for higher studies. He came in 1959 by ship and settled in Chicago. He earned Master’s degrees in Education and Clinical Psychology from Loyola University. He completed his coursework towards his Ph.D. at Howard University. He was a supervising Psychologist at Catholic Charities in Chicago until his retirement in 1994.

He was always very involved in community activities. He served as president of the Chicago Malayalee Association and Knanaya Catholic Society of Chicago. He had a large role in the formation and growth of KCCNA. He was the lead author in writing the constitutions for all three of these organizations. He provided leadership in establishing the first Knanaya Community Center in Chicago. He helped pave the road to opening a Knanaya mission in Chicago, which was the first Syro Malabar mission in the United States. He often hosted new immigrants from our community at his home and helped countless people get themselves established in Chicago. Privately, he provided free counseling to many families in our community.

With raising a family, having a full-time job and his community service work, he still found time to be a successful businessman with real estate interests in Chicago.

Kunchacko Sir, as he was called, loved his family, his community, and his work. He seemed to have limitless energy and never tired. Even in retirement in Florida, he took up new hobbies such as planting native Kerala trees and fishing. He was always busy in his gardens, even after reaching 90 years of age. He volunteered free counseling services to families within the local Latin church parish, well into his eighties. He delighted in spending time and talking with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was, and will continue to be, an inspiration to his family and to his community. He lived a good and busy life. May he now rest in the peace of our heavenly Father.