They Died 2021

18 THEY DIED 2021 W HEN MICHAEL Ammar Sr passed on March 8, 2021, at the age of 87, he was still an active businessman, who held the position at the Chamber of Director Emeritus – an earned honour, marking many former years of service as a director of the Chamber, but also a recognition of him as an outstanding businessman and a source of inspiration and wise counsel, worthy of emulation. A founder of the Ammar’s chain of stores in Jamaica, Michael Ammar Sr earned his reputation as a successful businessman and astute entrepreneur. But he was much more than that. To the man in the street, he was ‘a really nice man’; to his staff, many whom have remained em- ployees for up to 30 to 40 years, he was a ‘kind man’, a true ‘gentleman’, a ‘gentle giant’ who empowered and uplifted others. To his son Michael Ammar Jr – ‘an encouraging for- ce’ when he came to serve as president of the Chamber from 2002-2004. Michel Ammar Sr was the stuff of which true leaders are made! Not surprisingly, at the Chamber, he was recognised as a powerhouse of business connectivity, trade and com- merce, who enhanced its principles of ensuring the suc- cess of its members, both locally and globally. In the words of John Quincy Adams, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” These words more than appropriately describe the contributions of Ammar at the Chamber, as well as the outstanding reputation won for the Ammar’s chain of stores, not only for its business prac- tice, but by the giant of a man that founded it. HOWARD HAMILTON Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Past President P U B L I S H E D A P R I L 1 , 2 0 2 1 A true gentleman