George Adair Kissick was born in February 1925. His early years were spent between the Antrim Road and York Street in Belfast. His education was completed in Belfast Technical College. After working in photography he then went back to college to study for a teaching diploma. He graduated from Stranmillis and taught primary school in Dromara and Carrickfergus. Following further study he settled into teaching, until early retirement, from Beechlawn School, Hillsborough.
George Kissick met and married Margaret Jackson (Madge to everyone who knew her). By the time the two boys were born (George and John) they were living in Trooperslane near Carrickfergus. It was while in Carrick that both George and Madge became aware of the Bahá’í Faith being nurtured by the Harrowells, Backwells and Villiers-Stuarts. They took in a Bahá’í lodger, Jamshid Arjomandi, and when they declared their faith they assisted in the formation of the first Assembly in Carrickfergus.
After his second spell at Stranmillis, George began a job in Hillsborough. He was travelling daily and had two late nights supervising the school’s boarders, so the family moved in July 1970 to open Lisburn to the Faith. Shortly afterwards, thanks to declarations (Alwyne Fyffe and Irene Cowan), resident Bahá’ís (Hedley Beattie and Shelia Gregg) and more pioneer moves (Qudrat Mazidian, Beman and Marion Khosravi from Belfast, Les Gornall from England and Barry Watson from Craigavon) they helped start the first local Spiritual Assembly of the town. During his time in Lisburn George was one of the first people to mix music and readings at World Religion Day events
Madge was not a very well person. Her continuing ill health led to her early death in August 1980 leaving George with the two boys who were about to set up their own homes. George is survived by his sister May, his sons, their families and numerous nieces and nephews. His funeral took place in Lisburn on Friday 28 December 2007.
GK/EG
Ralph W.T. Rossi (1934-2008) passed over to the Abhá Kingdom on the evening of 1 January 2008, following a period of illness. He will be greatly missed by the entire NI Bahá’í community.
Becoming a Bahá’í in the early 1970s, he served on the first Spiritual Assembly of Newtownabbey (formed 1978), before moving to Belfast, where he served for many years as Chairman of Belfast LSA. During that time, he also served on the Northern Ireland Teaching Committee, and later as a member of the NI Inter-Faith Forum. In the early 1990s, he and his family moved back to Newtownabbey where he was to serve for more than ten years as Chairman of the LSA.
Probably because of his patience and good-humour, he was often elected chairman at different events, and was always tolerant- no matter how difficult the crowd! He enjoyed a good laugh and had a store of anecdotes, from his Anglo-Italian childhood growing up in Northern Ireland during the war years.
His many sayings have become a legend in the Northern Ireland community; such as: ‘You’re almost welcome!’ and ‘We offer you every support, short of actual help’ and ‘Don’t confuse me with facts’ He was the life and soul of every party, and the genial host at his home for many firesides, devotionals, LSA meetings and Feasts.
Ralph’s contribution to the life of the Bahá’í community in Northern Ireland over the last thirty years or more is immeasurable. He was a patient, generous, kindly, good-humoured and honest soul, whose qualities will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sylvia, and his children, grandchildren and wider family circle.
PB
William Galbraith (known as Billy), a long-standing member of North Down Community and husband of Gretta, passed to the Abhá Kingdom on Thursday 24 January 2008. His funeral took place on 30 January in Bangor.
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