by Neals J. Chitan
As a teen growing up in Grenville to an Adventist family, we went to church in Soubise. Alister Thomas better known as John Thomas or Johnny Boy was intrigued by our music and youth programs and joined us in fellowshipping at the Soubise SDA Church.
Although, at that time, he was as old as we were, he did not finish primary school and definitely did not attend any high school. But coming into our church where we as O’level students were talking about biology and chemistry and so on, he was overtaken by a burst of inspiration and desire to go to school.
With this motivation to join the group of young men seeking higher education, he went to the principal of the SDA Comprehensive School in Mt. Rose and asked him for a chance to go to school. He was given an entrance exam, but failed it. The principal told him he could not register him, because he was not able to do the work. The record says that he cried and would not leave the school while pleading with the principal to please give him a chance.
Because of his persistence, he was admitted and was placed in Form 3, since he was too old for Form 1. His probational 3 months paid off as he took night and made day to study and excel.
In two short years, with the help of the other SDA boys in a study group at the church, he did math and chemistry among other subjects and passed them at O’level. He then moved to Caribbean Union College in Trinidad and then to St. Augustine campus of UWI.
He then entered medical school and became a physician who practiced in Grenada and later in New York city. My mom (Mrs. Chitan)who was like a mother in his young life and encouraged him to excel said to me yesterday from Grenada that he was home last week and they went to church together and she told him how proud she was of him and encouraged him to keep achieving.
Ladies and gentlemen it is with deep grief that I announce here that my friend and brother Dr. Alister Thomas of New York City died on Saturday from a massive heart attack, leaving us friends and Grenadians to suffer the lost of a great Grenadian Physician who specialized in Sickle Cell. My his soul Rest in Peace and in the hope that we were given as young men and still hold as professionals, the coming of our Lord.
So sad to on the lost of this great man,your words are so powerful , may his soul R.i.P
We at Spiceislander.com will like to extend our deepest sympathy to his relatives and friends. He will be surely missed by all of us.