Tweet
Pablo McNeil's laughter will resound in heaven
Life Tributes
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Tweet
FALMOUTH, Trelawny — There was grief mixed with laughter as the late Olympian and track and field coach Pablo McNeil was laid to rest on Saturday after a thanksgiving service at the William Knibb Baptist Church in Falmouth.
McNeil, who died suddenly on July 4 after he was admitted to the Falmouth General Hospital, was remembered as a staunch disciplinarian, a fearless campaigner for decency and order, and a man with a big laugh.
Executives from the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA), Jamaica Olympic Association, Jamaica Paralympics Association, politicians and former athletes all paid tributes to McNeil, who participated in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games and also served in the diplomatic corps as Honorary Consul for Jamaica in California.
Ian Andrews, administrative director of INSPORT, where McNeil was employed as a sports officer, described him as "a hero, an upright man" before delivering a tribute in song.
Lorna Jackson, who read a tribute on behalf of William Knibb Memorial High School where McNeil was a track coach for several years, remembered McNeil as "a hard task master", but one "who was kind to his students".
She told a story about a day when the canteen at the school had run out of food and McNeil announced that even if he had to lose his job, he was allowing the students to go to Falmouth to get food as it was unfair for them to go hungry.
Jackson had the mourners laughing when she spoke about his aversion to litter and relayed that during the school's sports day he saw someone throw an empty drinks box on the auditorium floor.
She said that after several demands that the litterbug take up the box were not adhered to, McNeil proceeded to "drape up the man", only for someone looking on to rush to McNeil's aid, telling him that the man he had in "custody" was in fact a police officer.
The sports areas including the running track, football field and netball courts had to be spotless, she said, as McNeil would describe them as his "office" and would delegate students to pick up litter, joining in himself.
Several speakers remembered his booming laughter, imposing physical appearance and a coach who did not "tolerate excuses of any kind".
McNeil, who made it to the semi-finals of the 100m in his first Olympic appearance, was 72 years-old and had suffered a stroke four years ago.
The gregarious McNeil, who had been honoured by a number of organisations for his contribution to track and field as an athlete and coach, was admitted to the Falmouth Hospital after fainting earlier in the day on July 4.
Originally from Kingston, McNeil came to track and field late after he was spotted playing cricket.
After attending college in the United States, he took up coaching and worked with several sprinters including double World Record holder Usain Bolt and Commonwealth Games 100m gold medallist Lerone Clarke.
McNeil worked at the William Knibb High School between 1990 and 1999 when he retired, but returned briefly in 2002 when he worked with Bolt at GC Foster College leading up to Boys' Champs.
Bolt, later that year, became the youngest ever IAAF World Champion in 2002 when he won the 200m gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Kingston, a month ahead of his 16th birthday.
Life Tributes
BY PAUL A REID Observer writer reidp@jamaicaobserver
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Tweet
FALMOUTH, Trelawny — There was grief mixed with laughter as the late Olympian and track and field coach Pablo McNeil was laid to rest on Saturday after a thanksgiving service at the William Knibb Baptist Church in Falmouth.
McNeil, who died suddenly on July 4 after he was admitted to the Falmouth General Hospital, was remembered as a staunch disciplinarian, a fearless campaigner for decency and order, and a man with a big laugh.
Executives from the Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA), Jamaica Olympic Association, Jamaica Paralympics Association, politicians and former athletes all paid tributes to McNeil, who participated in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games and also served in the diplomatic corps as Honorary Consul for Jamaica in California.
Ian Andrews, administrative director of INSPORT, where McNeil was employed as a sports officer, described him as "a hero, an upright man" before delivering a tribute in song.
Lorna Jackson, who read a tribute on behalf of William Knibb Memorial High School where McNeil was a track coach for several years, remembered McNeil as "a hard task master", but one "who was kind to his students".
She told a story about a day when the canteen at the school had run out of food and McNeil announced that even if he had to lose his job, he was allowing the students to go to Falmouth to get food as it was unfair for them to go hungry.
Jackson had the mourners laughing when she spoke about his aversion to litter and relayed that during the school's sports day he saw someone throw an empty drinks box on the auditorium floor.
She said that after several demands that the litterbug take up the box were not adhered to, McNeil proceeded to "drape up the man", only for someone looking on to rush to McNeil's aid, telling him that the man he had in "custody" was in fact a police officer.
The sports areas including the running track, football field and netball courts had to be spotless, she said, as McNeil would describe them as his "office" and would delegate students to pick up litter, joining in himself.
Several speakers remembered his booming laughter, imposing physical appearance and a coach who did not "tolerate excuses of any kind".
McNeil, who made it to the semi-finals of the 100m in his first Olympic appearance, was 72 years-old and had suffered a stroke four years ago.
The gregarious McNeil, who had been honoured by a number of organisations for his contribution to track and field as an athlete and coach, was admitted to the Falmouth Hospital after fainting earlier in the day on July 4.
Originally from Kingston, McNeil came to track and field late after he was spotted playing cricket.
After attending college in the United States, he took up coaching and worked with several sprinters including double World Record holder Usain Bolt and Commonwealth Games 100m gold medallist Lerone Clarke.
McNeil worked at the William Knibb High School between 1990 and 1999 when he retired, but returned briefly in 2002 when he worked with Bolt at GC Foster College leading up to Boys' Champs.
Bolt, later that year, became the youngest ever IAAF World Champion in 2002 when he won the 200m gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Kingston, a month ahead of his 16th birthday.