A Tribute to Dr. The Hon. Rae Davis

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2021 14 TRIBUTE TO DR RAE DAVIS VI O N NUMEROUS occasions, our brother, Rae, has been described as being quiet and reserved. To those adjectives, one could add ‘understated’. Many would have discovered that it was a grave error to assume that this public demeanour implied that all that was being said around him was not being absorbed, analysed and distilled. For us, his siblings, we often had the urge to say to others, “Welcome to the club,”when those who had initially been fooled by his reserved, and seemingly detached stance, came to grasp the full meas- ure of this amazing human being. THE FACT is that we had long known that this was no ordinary person, but was the personification of “humility on steroids,” as one of his admirers described him. Rae seemed to wish to make his contributions, at whatever level, without drawing any attention to himself. The transformation of CAST to UTech, as well as his leadership of the EducationTask Force, are lauded by all who had the opportunity to work with himon these endeavours. His friend and colleague, Dennis Johnson, who died a few days after he did, never failed to credit him for putting the full force of his office be- hind the initiative to develop UTech into a major force in world track and field. However, if anyone were to ask Rae about his involvement in that initiative, he would shrug his shoulders and say: “Dennis tends to exaggerate.” Carlton tells the tale of a grudge cricket match between the primary schools of Four Paths and Toll Gate, when a last-wicket partnership of 50 runs between the two brothers took Four Paths to victory. Rae made no attempt to claim any of the credit for the victory. Rather, his only re- sponse to Carlton’s observation that his (Rae’s) contribution was a mere two runs, was that he would have loved to see Carlton keep on batting alone, if he had got out. The detached, reserved public figure changed very little in more private gatherings, whether it was a domino session or a family get-together. The story is told of a new UTech faculty member at a weekend domino session, loudly proclaiming his new job status and his importance in the scheme of things. He did not know the iden- tity of one of his opponents at the table, who seemed oblivious of the surrounding chatter. At the end of a game, with the score 6-0, the new faculty member was introduced to Rae, who greeted him with a smile and a cryptic “Welcome to UTech”. Little was heard from the new recruit for the rest of the evening. As Rae’s siblings, it would be ex- pected that we knew his attributes intimately and appreciated him for what he contributed to family, community and country. However, we have been overwhelmed by the messages from a vast range of persons, providing personal testi- monies of Rae’s assistance to them in time of need, his leadership in difficult times and, above all, his constant demonstration of humil- ity and a commitment to service at every level. Rest in peace, Rae. You came on this earth, did your work, and then some. FROMHIS SIBLINGS: CARLTON, JUNE, BEVERLEY, OMAR & JENNIFER The Davis family Dr Rae Davis