MONTEGO BAY, St James –

Ruel Madden, head of Maddens Funeral Directors in Montego Bay and the developer behind the newly-built Dovecot of St James cemetery died yesterday after a long bout of illness.

He was 62.

His death triggered an outpouring of sentiment from peers who recalled him as a well-respected leader of the community and an astute entrepreneur who was generous, affable, unassuming and strong of conviction.

Madden was the grandson of Leslie Ferdinand Madden, founder of the island’s largest funeral home, which started from humble beginnings in western Kingston.

“He will be sadly missed,” said Lloyd B Smith, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce. Smith described him as a very astute, enterprising entrepreneur.

Madden’s operation in the west includes outfits in St James, including the newly-constructed Dovecot of St James Cemetery, located in Orange in the parish and in Lucea in Hanover.

His involvement in politics was well known, being a former member of the youth arm of the People’s National Party (PNP) and wife Janet Madden was a PNP Senator and chairman of the St James northwest constituency.

Smith said the urbane, unassuming businessman was a household name and played a very important role in the community.

Friend, Lee Bailey, also pointed to the businessman’s affable and pleasant demeanor. “If you talk about a man of peace, someone who is most accommodating, then that’s him,” said Bailey. “He will be sadly missed by those who knew him, including myself.”

This was also the sentiment of former president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, Winston Deer. Deer described him as a leader of the community whose foresight in the business led to the establishment of the Dovecot of St James, which brought dignity to the whole burial process in the parish.