Veteran newsman Herman Roop Dass dies at age 81

Veteran journalist Herman Roop Dass has lost a year-long battle with cancer. He died Saturday at the age of 81.

Roop Dass worked at the Trinidad Guardian from 1953 to 1999 and then became a freelance reporter for Newsday.

Throughout his career his main beat was his hometown of Couva and central Trinidad.

He began his professional career as a teacher and worked at Exchange Presbyterian, Phoenix Park Government, California Government, Guapo Government, Cumuto Government and was principal at Cunupia Government Primary school when he retired.

He was a passionate sportsman as well and served as a member of the management committee of the T&T Table Tennis Association for 37 years.

He was treasurer of the Caribbean Table Tennis Federation for eight years and was the Caribbean representative for the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation from 1981-1983.

In 1982 Roop Dass received the Humming Bird Silver medal for long and meritorious service in table tennis administration.

The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday at 11 am at the Knox Presbyterian Church, Southern Main, Couva, followed by cremation at Belgrove's Crematorium in Tacarigua.