They Left Us in 2007
Herb McKenley, member of Jamaica's first Olympic Dream Team to London in
1948, on 26th November at 85.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
Charles Hyatt, international funnyman of stage,
screen & radio, on New Year's Day at 75.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
Richard Ashenheim, lawyer, sports journalist,
Gleaner director & friend, 14th December at 80.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
Basil Buck, super financial analyst, 21st January
at 72.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
Eileen Cliggott, Jamaica's first female horse
trainer, 15th October at 90.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
Angela King, UN advisor on gender issues, 5th
February at 68.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
David "Jack" Pottinger, painter of Jamaican life,
on 13th February at 95.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
Ray Hadeed, who believed in the phrase "Made in
Jamaica", on 24th April at 86.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
George Phillip, businessman & labour advocate, on
March 30th at 69.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
Professor Leslie Robinson, first principal of the
UWI Mona Campus, on April 4th at 82.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
Clifton Neita, former managing director of the
Gleaner & editor of
Who's Who Jamaica, on August 13th at 92.
Read the Gleaner Obituary
Thelma Manley, dancer & second wife of
Michael Manley, on 7th February at 77.
Do you remember "Sawdering" that hit of
the '70s by Stanley & the Turbines? Stanley Beckford died on 30th March
at 65.
Dr Ruth Doorbar, clinical psychologist
who worked tirelessly with the underprivileged & prison inmates, on 16th
April at 83.
Jimmy Carnegie, sports historian &
statistician, on 10th July at 69.
Peter Vogel, Swiss born environmentalist,
on 19th July at 60.
"Jah Jerry" Haynes, of the Skatalites, on
August 11th at 86.
Clifton Segree, brilliant journalist, on
September 1st at 64.
George Barber, former Governor of the
Bank of Jamaica, in October at 84.
Sonia Jones, news making attorney, on
November 25th at 61.
Gilbert Kamika, Assistant Commissioner of
Police, on 29th November at 48.
A Personal Note
On Tuesday, July 17th
our friend, Paul, awoke with a terrible chest pain. His family rushed him to the car
and down the hill. Unfortunately before they reached the hospital gate,
Paul was gone. Though not a "health nut" he was extremely healthy (we
thought). Paul lived in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, above the
pollution line. Aside from the occasional Red Stripe, he did not drink;
nor did he smoke. He was not a party animal nor a womanizer. He lived a
quiet, contented life with Alison, Alexander and Lindsay at the centre.
Paul was my husband's
closest friend. Many a night they would spend hours on the phone discussing the newest software releases or the
advantages of Mozilla over Explorer. They would discuss hurricane
probabilities, the latest happenings in Jamaica's security industry, of
which they were both a part. Paul would also speak with great pride of
the latest accomplishments of his much loved wife and children. With the
anchor provided by Paul, two teenagers were growing up without the
problems the rest of us have undergone with ours.
Paul's name may not be as
well known as the others in the list but he was just as important as
they were, for Paul had his priorities right. His work and the pursuit
of financial success always came second to his family and his friends.
Paul kept in touch with all his friends on a regular basis. He knew what
was happening with old school friends and friends from the days when he
was the Disco King, Jamaica's answer to John Travolta. He was the person
his neighbours called upon for help or his church called upon for
support. He was, indeed, the best friend anyone could have. Jamaica
would be a better place if there were more like him. Everyone whose life
touched his, and there were many, will miss him greatly. Walk good,
Friend.
Paul Anthony Martin,
family man & friend, on 17th July at 56.
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