The founder of the well-known youth care organisation, Boys Town, has died.
Bishop Reginald Orsmond (71) died on Sunday morning after recently breaking his hip, the chief executive of Boys Town, Joe Araujo, said.
Araujo who was one of the original 26 boys admitted to Boys Town, said Orsmond was a living legend.
”Although his health had been failing for some time he continued to serve on the Board of Trustees and took an active interest in the work of Boys Town.”
Orsmond was born on January, 18, 1931 in Troyeville, Johannesburg. As a young boy he was inspired by the Oscar winning film ”Boys Town”, starring Spencer Tracey and Mickey Rooney.
His family regularly housed needy boys and in 1947, after matriculating from Jeppe Boys’ High, he entered Catholic Seminary.
In 1955 he was assigned to Moroka Parish later to become known as Regina Mundi church in Soweto.
”He was very dedicated to helping boys,” added Araujo.
The first Boys Town was opened in Magaliesburg in 1958 with 26 boys from children’s homes throughout the country.
”There was no fanfare,” said Araujo. ”No public announcement. He taught us the peer group system of government. He taught us responsibility, consequences, self esteem. He had no guidance from social workers – it was only the memory of the film that guided him. That and prayer. There was a lot of that too.”
Today, Boys Town centres are found at Tongaat in KwaZulu Natal, Macassar in the Western Cape and Kagiso-Randfontein as well as Magaliesburg in Gauteng.
Orsmond was appointed Bishop of Johannesburg in 1984. – Sapa