Mangaluru: First Lady Mayor Eunice Britto No More

Mangaluru: First Lady Mayor Eunice Britto No More

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jun 29, 2016:  Mangalore city’s first lady mayor Eunice Marie Britto passed away today(Wednesday, June 29). She had served as the city’s first citizen during 1993-1994. She was aged 79 and the end came at a hospital.

 

An eminent social worker, she created history by becoming both the first lady deputy mayor and mayor of the city during her brief innings in politics in the 90’s.

Eunice Britto was born on 27 November, 1936, at Bejai. Her parents were John and Mary Mathias, who were coffee planters. She studied at various famous institutions like Lady Hill Victoria High School at Urva, St. Joseph’s Convent, Chikmagalur and Mount Carmel, Bangalore culminating in B.Ed. at St. Ann’s Mangalore.

She married Christopher Britto, a government officer, in 1957 and the couple had three children.  Her husband died of heart attack in 1986.

 

During this period she studied MSW and served as a lecturer at Roshni Nilaya for almost a decade. When the city was upgraded to a corporation, she contested from Falnir Ward as a Congress candidate. It is said that she was chosen for the post of Deputy Mayor and later as Mayor mainly on account of her educational qualifications and not due to reservation as it often happens these days.

 

As the mayor she spearheaded many developmental activities. Later she gradually withdrew from politics and had been reticent last few years.