Newsletter, Issue # 59, Nov.,, 2010

St. George's College
Old Boys'
Association

ON, Canada

Part 4 of 4

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

L-R: Dr. Ralph Thompson , Prof. Anthony Chen ,  Dr. Herbert  Ho Ping Kong,  Ambassador Anthony Hill, Tommy Lyew,  Clive Morin, Robin Mahfood, Dr. Donald Clarke, Pokar Chandiram & Dr. Raymond Chang

      On Saturday, September 18th, five distinguished St.George’s College old boys were inducted into the schools Hall of Fame. The uplifting ceremony took place at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. Earl Jarrett was Master of Ceremonies.

      Keith Lyn’s silky voice enriched the musical entertainment side and brought back fond memories of the old Byron Lee days to many- all proceeds went to the school

     Of the five inductees, four -- Ambassador Anthony Hill (class 1954), Tommy Lyew (attended 1946-1948), Robin Mahfood (, class 1960) and Dr Donald Clarke (Class 1946) -- were present to accept their citations. The citation for the fifth inductee, the late Father Denis Cruchley, was accepted by his nephew, Clive Morin.

    Dr Clarke was recognized for his service to education and science; Robin  Mahfood for philanthropy and service to St George's; Father Denis Cruchley for service to education and faculty; Tommy Lyew for service to St George's in engineering and construction; and Ambassador Anthony  Hill for public service and sports.

       Representing our Ontario chapter was Ray Chang and Dr. Herbert Ho Ping Kong; themselves Hall of Fame inductees. Carl Chang our liaison Director was also present. Also attending was Dr. Ralph Thompson, Hall of Fame awardee in 2006.

        Pokar Chandiram, chairman of the organizing committee, at this, the 160th anniversary of the school must have been pleased with this year’s inductees, all shining examples of the best that St. George’s has produced.

        Ambassador Anthony Hill is considered even now to be one of the finest schoolboy footballers that the country has ever produced. He was a member of the winning 1955 Manning team and captain of the 1956 team which won both the Manning cup and Olivier shield. He went on to competitive football and represented Jamaica and the Caribbean region in that sport.

       Ambassador Hill has a BSc (Economics) from the University of London/University of the West Indies and a M.A (Public Administration) from Carlton University in Canada.

       An outstanding public servant he began his distinguished career in the diplomatic service in 1968 as First Secretary in the Geneva Mission. Over the next 30 years, he held numerous posts including the High Commissioner to Canada and Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and its Specialized Agencies in Geneva from 1978-1989 and again from 1995-1998. He has been a member of many international bodies and panels. For his service, he has been awarded his country’s Order of Distinction. (C.D)

        Robin Mahfood is President/CEO of non profit Food for The Poor, the largest charity organization in the United States, which since 1982 has distributed more than $3.5 billion worth of food, medicine, housing materials, water and other aid to the poor in the Caribbean and Latin America. Under his leadership, Food for the Poor has experienced impressive growth while maintaining an operating expense ratio of under 4%. The organization is consistently recognized by Forbes Magazine for its exemplary charitable commitment and fundraising efficiency ratios.

        Described as a “spiritual businessman with a true heart for the poor”, Robin has truly tried to live by his schools motto “ Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam’’ – For the Greater Glory of God .

       Fr. Cruchley was a member of the first St. George’s College football team to bring home both the Manning Cup and Olivier Shield to Winchester Park This was in 1920 and with two other budding Jesuits on the same team, Frs. Chas & Sydney Judah. He was ordained in 1936 and was both teacher and sports master at St.George’s from 1931 to 1933 and again between 1937 to 1944. He was appointed Headmaster of the school in 1945 - the first Jamaican Jesuit and Old Boy to occupy the post, which he held till 1951.

        He was revered as a pastor and mentor to many in his service to the wider catholic community in the parishes of Holy Cross, Sts. Peter & Paul, St. Theresa’s and Stella Maris.

         Tommy Lyew is one of the principals of the consulting firm of Hue Lyew Chin Engineering limited and is recognized by his peers as an outstanding Jamaican structural engineer.

        With his specialist engineering and contractual expertise He has contributed significantly in the development and maintenance of the infrastructure of the school and was instrumental in the restoration of the Chaplain Industrial Art Building, the Auditorium, Emmett Park and more recently the O’Hare Building.

           Dr.Donald Clarke taught chemistry at the school for years. He is a 1950 graduate of  Fordham University,  going on to get a doctorate in 1955 in Organic Chemistry and Enzymology and is presently Professor of Chemistry at Fordham. He has held senior posts at the University of Toronto and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He is a prolific publisher and is a member of the American Society for Neurochemistry, the International Society of Neurochemistry and the Biological Society.

           In his 60 years of outstanding work in the field of Science he has been the recipient of numerous awards by his peers.

          Here is evidence indeed that our  graduates can and do compete and excel in the international arena.

Robbie Vernon

L-R:Robbie Vernon, Pat Garel, Milton Hart, Heather Vernon, Margaret Campbell, Ray Chang, Gary Thompson,  Novelette Hart, Jazeel Martin, Chris Chin, Carl Chang, Fred & Georgie Kennedy.-Picture by Ray Chen

On the Sunday following the summer ball, Ray and Donette Chang hosted a party at their beautiful Toronto home to welcome friends of St. George’s.

      Principal Margaret Campbell, Most Hon Edward Seaga, wife Carla and daughter and Hon Marlene Malahoo  Forte and Justice Ian Forte were among those present.   Guests mingled and chatted away the evening, enjoying live music and sumptuous food and drink.

       With the hectic pace over recent months in preparation for the ball, the event provided a welcome opportunity for the executive and their spouses  to just relax and enjoy the evening – off duty.

       Thanks to Ray and Donette for once again being such wonderful hosts to the St. George’s family.

Fred Kennedy

In relaxing moods L-R:  Lloyd Pinnock, Her Excellency Sheila Sealy Monteith ,Ja. High Com. Canada,  Pat Ferguson, Hon Marlene Forte & Justice Ian Forte , Kay Pinnock

IN MY VIEW, if ever there was a year that StGC could three-peat winning the Manning Cup, this could have been  it, as coach Bertis Bell and his boys of white & blue had won  about  7 of their 8 games early in the season, losing only to Wolmer’s, winning 5 of them rather convincingly. This year, the boys were in Zone E, which contained their rival schools Ardenne High, Donald Quarrie, Edith Dalton James, Spanish Town High, St Jago High, and Wolmer’s Boys Schools. They did quite well in the preliminary rounds, winning a few games with some miraculous come-from-behind goals, and ended up making it to the quarter finals.

        Unfortunately, theirs was the better team this year, and they knocked StGC out of the competition for 2010, thereby spoiling the 3peat Manning Cup win. Nothing at all to be ashamed of, however, and I am sure you will all join me in congratulating coach Bertis Bell and his fine boys in blue for a job well done in 2010. Keep up the good work guys, and we will see you in 2011. Here’s hoping you will be in the finals next year for sure.

     (Fr. Ryan will love this one) There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh.  No pun in ten did!!

        Here is a known fact. In the 1968 Olympics held in Mexico City, 22 year old Jim Hines of USA won the gold for the 100 yd. dash, in 9.95 seconds. Big deal!! In 1952, Jamaica had a young 18 year old JC school boy named Frank Hall who won the Class 1-100 yd. gold in 9.90 seconds. In 1911, Norman Manley did it in 10 seconds flat. So, you see, we had speedsters surfacing long ago. Now we have Bolt. But you heard it here first. Watch out for Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, the next up and comer in the 100 meters. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

         It is with sadness that I mention the tragic passing of Raymond Wong Chew Onn, son of  old boy Eddie Wong Chew Onn, and godson to our StGC Ambassador, Carl Chang. Raymond was killed by home invaders at his Jamaican residence in late September 2010. Ray leaves his father, mother Jenneth (Cutie), brother Edward, sister Julie. Sincere condolences from us all to the entire Wong Chew Onn family. It is said that, no matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

          I was a bit miffed to see the much smaller turnout at the StGC Summer Ball this year. Just shy of eight hundred people were present, compared to the 1000 plus we have had each year over the last 9 or 10 years.  I heard flimsy excuses from several old boys. “I didn’t like the food last year.” Or “The band didn’t play enough soca last year.” Or “Devon and Pamela aren’t going, so I can’t be bothered to go either.”  Stop!! Imagine the loss of revenue from those extra 200 tickets theat weren’t sold?? It will certainly affect our annual contribution, some of which will go towards payments re its property maintenance program, the purchasing of equipment, a variety of repair costs due to wear and tear? The Ball is the only real fundraiser we have each year, and needs everyone’s support. Ah, well, the guests at the 2010 Ball had a great time anyway. They danced and sang along with special guest artist, “Pluto Shervington,” who took everyone back in time down memory lane with his fabled “Ram Goat Liva, Letter from Miami, Duppy Gunman” and many others. Pluto was backed by Toronto’s fabulous all-round dance group, Jay Douglas & the Allstars. Jay, whose stage performance is second to none in Toronto, wowed the crowd with a variety of old ballads and well known reggae hits. His 10 piece band played to a level of excellence, not expected by many in attendance that evening. Next year, we will certainly have another great time as well. Come guys, put away your pennies now for next year’s event. And, please --no more flimsy excuses, support the school by attending the event.. *If you are not pleased with the Summer Ball, I urge you to write in, or phone any member of your executive with complaints, recommendations etc. Tell the executive what would make you want to purchase a ticket to next year’s event. If you do it now, your recommendations will be acted upon in time for 2011’s event.

          A rubber band pistol was confiscated from Fr. Duffy’s  Algebra class back in ‘62, because it was considered a weapon of math disruption.

        The Hall of Fame event held in Jamaica this year, was an apparent success. I am told Ambassador Chang sold 150 tickets himself, and came out of his sales encounters un-injured. Over 400 people were in attendance. FIVE distinguished St George's College old boys were inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. They were Ambassador Anthony Hill, Tommy Lyew, the late Father Denis Cruchley, whose plaque was accepted by his nephew Clive Morin, Robin Mahfood, and Dr Donald Clarke.  Congratulations to them, and congratulations to the organizers for setting up such a great historic event.

         'When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane, you always have enough power left to get you to the scene of the crash.'

     Congratulations also go out to Trevor Palmer, President (of the Florida Chapter) and his organizers of their 2010 Dinner Dance, which from all reports was a most enjoyable and successful event. I will have to attend next year for sure. As always, I will leave you with this one.

          A man was riding his Harley along a California beach, when suddenly the sky cleared above his head and in a booming voice, the Lord said, 'Because you have tried to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish.' The biker pulled over and said, 'Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can ride over anytime I want.' The Lord said, 'Your request is materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking, the amount of supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific, and the concrete and steel it would take to build such an enormous bridge! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources  here on earth. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for such a worldly thing. Take a little more time and think of something that could possibly help mankind. 'The biker thought about it for a long time. Finally, he said, 'Lord, I wish that I and all men could understand women; I want to know how they feel inside, what they’re thinking when they give me the silent treatment, why they cry so much and so often, what they mean when they say “nothing's wrong”, why they snap and complain when I try to help, and how I can make a woman truly happy. The Lord replied, 'You want two lanes or four lanes on that bridge?' He-He!!  

*Check the StGC website at www.stgctoronto.com, go to “Your Executive page”, and send an email regarding any feedback you have on our Annual Ball, to any of the executives listed.

Neil Dalhouse