Tribute to Lawson Calderon – by Michael Coore M.D Jamaica
Ralph Waldo Emerson said “A good friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature” I tend to share that view.
I first met Lawson and Paula in 1983 when their newly arrived daughter Natasha was referred to me by Doctor Matthew Beaubrun because she had sickle cell anaemia. I still remember the look of concern on their faces as I explained the ramifications of the disease and in that instant my spirit took to the couple.
Stemming from this professional relationship we soon became close social friends enjoying great camaraderie at each others homes, on the squash court and at other social events. We enjoyed seven years of happy family friendships and it was with some sadness that Carol [my wife] and myself said goodbye to Lawson, Paula and the children when they returned to St. Lucia. Out of sight though never out of mind we kept in touch.
It was with great delight therefore that I learned of Lawson’s consultancy work with the Shipping Association of Jamaica, which would bring him to Jamaica frequently. Our close friendship was immediately rekindled and I have spent some happy moments in Lawson’s company. Added to that was the pleasure of having Natasha here in Jamaica at UTECH pursuing her architectural degree. I felt the Calderons were coming back home to the country of their honorary citizenship. My friend Lawson Calderon was a bit of an enigma, but a very pleasing puzzle indeed. I never ceased to marvel or delight in some new discovery I made about him or some side of him that he revealed to me. Lawson had a brilliant visionary intellect, an attribute I am SURE the people who worked with him can attest to. Add to that a sharp wit, a kind heart, a tremendous sense of humour and perhaps not often recognized a deep sense of humility, integrity, devotion to family and religious awareness. Any tow or three of these qualities would make a man special, all of these made Lawson universal. He made friends and impressed people instantly and left an indelible impression on those he met. The ubiquitous Mr. Calderon was never at a loss for words, for opinions or analysis. He fit easily into all situations and was quite at home with people of all social strata. He was slow to anger and rarely impatient with or unkind to people he considered to be of lesser intellect than himself.
To quote Alexander Pope “In many ways he was my guide, philosopher and friend”. I have never been able to understand why Lawson was not more readily received as a politician in his home country. He seemed to me to posses all the requisite attributes of leadership. Perhaps he was, as George Canning once said “A ready patriot of the world alone, a friend of every country but his own”.
But no more of that...about the lighter side of Lawson.
Lawson attacked life; he worked hard and played hard. He loved a good lime and we shared many of those. We often laughed at various ditties that abound exhorting men to carouse. We both loved Omar Kahayyam, but one of our favourites was attributed to Henry Aldrich –
If all be true that I do think
There are five reasons we should drink
Good wine, a friend or being dry
Or lest we should meet by and by
Or any other reason why
We made many happy moments over a few brew [sometimes not so few]. But there was much more to the social side of Lawson, he had, as I do, a passion for cooking and some of my fondest memories will be of use planning menus, shopping for ingredients and then exercising our options on any hapless victim that we could round up on a Sunday afternoon by 6.00 pm for Sunday lunch. We had a whale of a time.
I first met Lawson and Paula in 1983 when their newly arrived daughter Natasha was referred to me by Doctor Matthew Beaubrun because she had sickle cell anaemia. I still remember the look of concern on their faces as I explained the ramifications of the disease and in that instant my spirit took to the couple.
Stemming from this professional relationship we soon became close social friends enjoying great camaraderie at each others homes, on the squash court and at other social events. We enjoyed seven years of happy family friendships and it was with some sadness that Carol [my wife] and myself said goodbye to Lawson, Paula and the children when they returned to St. Lucia. Out of sight though never out of mind we kept in touch.
It was with great delight therefore that I learned of Lawson’s consultancy work with the Shipping Association of Jamaica, which would bring him to Jamaica frequently. Our close friendship was immediately rekindled and I have spent some happy moments in Lawson’s company. Added to that was the pleasure of having Natasha here in Jamaica at UTECH pursuing her architectural degree. I felt the Calderons were coming back home to the country of their honorary citizenship. My friend Lawson Calderon was a bit of an enigma, but a very pleasing puzzle indeed. I never ceased to marvel or delight in some new discovery I made about him or some side of him that he revealed to me. Lawson had a brilliant visionary intellect, an attribute I am SURE the people who worked with him can attest to. Add to that a sharp wit, a kind heart, a tremendous sense of humour and perhaps not often recognized a deep sense of humility, integrity, devotion to family and religious awareness. Any tow or three of these qualities would make a man special, all of these made Lawson universal. He made friends and impressed people instantly and left an indelible impression on those he met. The ubiquitous Mr. Calderon was never at a loss for words, for opinions or analysis. He fit easily into all situations and was quite at home with people of all social strata. He was slow to anger and rarely impatient with or unkind to people he considered to be of lesser intellect than himself.
To quote Alexander Pope “In many ways he was my guide, philosopher and friend”. I have never been able to understand why Lawson was not more readily received as a politician in his home country. He seemed to me to posses all the requisite attributes of leadership. Perhaps he was, as George Canning once said “A ready patriot of the world alone, a friend of every country but his own”.
But no more of that...about the lighter side of Lawson.
Lawson attacked life; he worked hard and played hard. He loved a good lime and we shared many of those. We often laughed at various ditties that abound exhorting men to carouse. We both loved Omar Kahayyam, but one of our favourites was attributed to Henry Aldrich –
If all be true that I do think
There are five reasons we should drink
Good wine, a friend or being dry
Or lest we should meet by and by
Or any other reason why
We made many happy moments over a few brew [sometimes not so few]. But there was much more to the social side of Lawson, he had, as I do, a passion for cooking and some of my fondest memories will be of use planning menus, shopping for ingredients and then exercising our options on any hapless victim that we could round up on a Sunday afternoon by 6.00 pm for Sunday lunch. We had a whale of a time.
Lawson was a sports aficionado and had wide knowledge and appreciation of many sports. He also loved music; all forms of it especially classical music, another arrow in the quiver of his deep sensibilities. He once told me of a book he had read called “God seen through the eyes of Great Minds” and with the aegis of a friend from a book store, I extracted this quote from Mozart which well sets the tone for my closing remarks.
“Let us trust God and comfort ourselves with the thought that all is well i it be God’s will, since He knows best what is requisite and necessary to our temporal and to our eternal happiness”.
Lawson’s Departure is a deep and grievous loss to his family, Paula, Natasha, Alex and Jonathan, other close family and friends. As Pope remarked on the death of his friend Swift, “How often so we die before we quite go off this stage? In every friend we lose, we lost a part of ourselves that which is the best part”
Lawson died tragically trying to save another life. To the end he displayed the highest form of selflessness there is. “Greater love hath no man that this that man lay down his life for his friends” Lawson Calderon you are my friend, our friend.
“Let us trust God and comfort ourselves with the thought that all is well i it be God’s will, since He knows best what is requisite and necessary to our temporal and to our eternal happiness”.
Lawson’s Departure is a deep and grievous loss to his family, Paula, Natasha, Alex and Jonathan, other close family and friends. As Pope remarked on the death of his friend Swift, “How often so we die before we quite go off this stage? In every friend we lose, we lost a part of ourselves that which is the best part”
Lawson died tragically trying to save another life. To the end he displayed the highest form of selflessness there is. “Greater love hath no man that this that man lay down his life for his friends” Lawson Calderon you are my friend, our friend.
JOHN WRIGHT an utterly happy man
Sue Wright and her family would like to thank all those who attended the gathering on the golf course to celebrate John’s Life. They would also like to thank all those who donated hundreds of dollars to the Sickle Cell Association in lieu of flowers.
John will be missed not only by his family, but also his staff at Razmataz, his golfing buddies and all those who knew and loved him.
John was an active member of the golf club; he represented his country and the OECS many times. Although he always played to win, he maintained a high integrity and immaculate standards on the golf course.
John has always happy to entertain others for charity. As a sixties musician, Rock & Roll and Country & Western were his specialties.
John was very happy to be St. Lucian citizen and attempted to bring good standards and integrity to all aspects of his life here. John was a visionary, he made things happen. He had a great confidence n St. Lucia’s future and took a serious business risk when establishing the Razmataz Restaurant [the only Tandoori restaurant in St. Lucia]. The high standards of this restaurant have been acknowledged with a number of international awards.
John was an utterly happy man. Some men live ten lifetimes and never arrive at such a stage of contentment as John was at and he loved St. Lucia and its people.
January 28, 2005 The Star Newspaper.
John will be missed not only by his family, but also his staff at Razmataz, his golfing buddies and all those who knew and loved him.
John was an active member of the golf club; he represented his country and the OECS many times. Although he always played to win, he maintained a high integrity and immaculate standards on the golf course.
John has always happy to entertain others for charity. As a sixties musician, Rock & Roll and Country & Western were his specialties.
John was very happy to be St. Lucian citizen and attempted to bring good standards and integrity to all aspects of his life here. John was a visionary, he made things happen. He had a great confidence n St. Lucia’s future and took a serious business risk when establishing the Razmataz Restaurant [the only Tandoori restaurant in St. Lucia]. The high standards of this restaurant have been acknowledged with a number of international awards.
John was an utterly happy man. Some men live ten lifetimes and never arrive at such a stage of contentment as John was at and he loved St. Lucia and its people.
January 28, 2005 The Star Newspaper.
Francis Tobias a friend to remember
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