I am my father’s legacy! As number four of six children, I now leave him my up close and personal account of his humble but influential life, one which has transformed so many lives, not only in Jamaica but worldwide, to become caring and generous human beings.

For far too long the Jamaican society has downplayed the struggles, hopes and aspirations of our few good fathers who try tirelessly to keep their families afloat despite the many odds. Nowadays a good and noble man is an endangered species; notwithstanding, my father Aston Brown is one such man.

Therefore, I hope that this article will serve to motivate and insipre other men to become good husbands and great fathers just like my dad so that their offspring may have healthy and fruitful lives and enjoy a bright and successful future.

Having been born and bred in Greenwich Farm (In Greenwich Town, South West St Andrew), for more than 25 years I was vulnerable to getting involved in bad company and to using illegal substances on a daily basis. Nonetheless, not once had I been in an altercation or fight of any sort nor did I use any form of illicit drugs, thanks to the solid and strict parenting I received from my parents. My father’s presence, discipline and guidance at home made a great difference during that strenuous period in my life.

My father has always sustained, protected, supported, nourished and provided for his family. My daddy stands undeniably a living testimony of being a great father and he remains the greatest man I know because he has dedicated the last 69 years of his life serving his family, relatives, friends and fellowmen with undying love, unabated generosity, and inspiring goodwill.

Humble beginnings

Aston Alfred Brown, lovingly called “Raggy”, was born on August 30, 1947 in Greenwich Farm and is the seventh sibling of 10 (three girls and seven boys). His parents, Wilfred and Elizabeth, worked as a tailor and vegetable vendor, respectively, to sustain their household. While most of his siblings left Jamaica for England in their youthful years to seek better lives, Aston decided to stay and work to help support his parents and other siblings.

As a lad growing up in Greenwich Farm, Aston attended Greenwich All Age School, after which he immediately pursued vocational training in welding for a year at Bumper Hall High School (St Andrew Technical High School). After successful completion of his training at age 18, he then became an apprentice welder at Public Works Department in Tivoli where he developed and refined his welding skills for 18 months. Afterwards he spent the next four years working intermittently in the bauxite industry, welding storage tanks at Alpart in St Elizabeth, Port Kaiser and Revere Bauxite Company.

In 1972, he started a professional love affair with Jamaica Gypsum and Quarries, which ended in 2000 when his position was made redundant. In 1990 he suffered a major accident at work when a heavy pipe that he was cutting fell on and burnt his right hand, rendering it immobile for more than three months. He had to undergo the agony of surgery and rehabilitation for more than a year to get it back to near normal functioning. He spent the last 14 years there as a port manager/supervisor.

A loving husband and caring father

Behind every man, stands a great woman. My father’s life proved no exception. He first beheld the beauty of his future wife Naomi Henry as a teenager when he went to rural Jamaica, but they only started living together in 1971 just before he secured permanent employment at Jamaica Gypsum and Quarries, and subsequently they tied the knot later on in life.

It was never an easy task living in Greenwich Farm and raising a family of six in the 1980s, especially during the violent election periods which exacerbated their stress. My parents lived in constant fear that their children might not make it home alive from school due to the rampant shoot-outs and heinous acts of violence in the neighbourhood.

The eldest child Sharon, went to Ardenne High School, while both their sons Aston Jnr and Krishna went to the great purple and white institution, Kingston College, where they made history by becoming head boys in the shortest time frame ever by students at the school. Daughters Suzette and Devi attended Merl Grove High School, while Beneve studied at Trench Town Comprehensive. As supportive parents, they attended all the PTA meetings and all our school events. Despite raising six students, they never missed a single event. Their extraordinary commitment to our welfare as children led us to become the mature and responsible individuals we are today.

I vividly remember my dad taking us to church on Sunday mornings in his open back van, then going back home to cook us our Sunday “bickles” and coming back to pick us up to take us home. Besides, what amazed me most about my parents was their constant care, love and benevolence towards everyone in the community, especially to the least fortunate, as they have always given of their scarce resources, time and energy. He eventually sold his van to help finance his son Aston Jnr through university. No sacrifice is too great for his family.

Great tragedy struck the family unit when his beloved wife succumbed to lukemia in April 1994 and went on to higher office. Such was his love and devotion to his wife and family that my father never remarried. He decided to dedicate the rest of his life to sustaining his children, helping his relatives and attending to the needs of his neighbours in Greenwich Farm.

His daughter Sharon, who lives in Canada, states: “Daddy is the most compassionate, honest, and caring father in the world. He is always there to sacrifice for and to support his children — even as adults — in any way he can. He goes above and beyond for all his children and he is indeed the best dad ever.”

At present, my father is so blessed to have eight grandchildren and one great grandson, all of whom are spread all over the world, thus allowing him the opportunity to travel and spend quality time with them. All of his children and grandchildren are always thrilled and elated to see him when he visits them abroad.

Recently, his five-year-old granddaughter Naomi, who lives in Jacksonville, Florida, told her mom Suzette: “I wish my dad was like yours.” To which she responded, “So do I.” Suzette remarked: “My dad does not say much. But he does a lot. His actions and deeds make him the man he is.”

She continued: “He never complains. He listens and then acts. He is the best cook and we can’t get enough of his curry chicken, soups, fried fish, dumplings, ackee and saltfish. We adore him. He has an adventurous spirit. He is up for anything, even having his granddaughter bounce on his belly at 6:00 am to rouse him out of his sleep as we get ready for the day. She then jumps into his bed and tries to snuggle with him and go back to sleep. Dad loves it!”

A global Ambassador

In 2013, dad was asked to collaborate with the NGO One Love International (OLI), based in Spain, to become the director of the Jamaican delegation, to which he agreed. To date, he has successfully initiated and completed five different projects in Jamaica, working alongside Devi Brown, OLI’s management specialist. The most recent projects he spearheaded in November 2016 were under the Global Partnership Collaboration Initiative called, Love Jamaica Project: Missions #4 and #5, in which eating utensils and toiletries were donated to the Marcus Garvey Basic School and Holyname Catholic Church Sunday School in Greenwich Farm for the benefit of more than 100 children. This reveals his love and commitment to the upliftment of children in his beloved community.

In March 2015, the board of One Love International appointed my father to the post of global ambassador, the most prestigious post in the entire organisation. They endowed on him the honour and responsibilty to represent the NGO internationally.

Since then he has continued to work indefatigably to help OLI achieve its global mission and objectives. Thanks to his sedulous efforts and invaluable contribution, OLI has, since it has been founded, managed to impact hundreds of individuals positively in 82 cities/towns, from 34 countries on five continents in three years and five months.

Yoelvis Romero from Cuba, an OLI board member, described Aston as his Jamaican “father” with pure love, generosity and hospitality. Romero also considers him the best culinary ambassador from Jamaica.

Ambassador Brown has truly proven himself to be a tower of strength and inspiration. For the past two years he has dedicated four weeks in summer to accompany me on the CoMET (Coaching, Mentorship, Empowerment and Training) Programme. This is a very intense and tiring period in which we had to travel countless number of hours covering thousands of kilometres. During this period my dad employed his skills as a culinary coach to Jamaican cuisine and as a mentor to more than 150 individuals in more than 20 cities in 10 coutries in the Caribbean, North America and Latin America.

Culinary coachee José Amaya, a lawyer in Bogotá, Colombia, describes his paternal coach, Brown, as an extremely sweet person: “The dad to measure all dads against”, the universal father, and one great chef!

OLI’s Power Support Catalyst José Luis Moreno, who is based in Ecuador, said of his mentor: “Daddy is unquestionably one of the sweetest and gentlest men on the face of the Earth. He is gifted with the heart of a true father that exemplifies love and kindness.”

Striving with purpose

Even though my dad is now unfortunately plagued with severe diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure that cause his legs to be swollen, his knees to be frail and his eyesight to be blurred, he still serves his community in his own unique way. For instance, on Saturday evenings he sweeps up and cleans the grounds of the Holyname Catholic Church where he congregates. Devastating health issues do not hinder him from visiting and spending time with his neighbours in the community. He often gives them a helping hand with daily tasks or just listens to their trials and tribulations.

I have had the enormous privilege of serving humanity beside my father in more than 20 countries and 50 cities where he has helped, counselled, coached, mentored, motivated, and inspired so many individuals from all walks of life. He plans to continue serving passionately in his ambassadorial role in order to advance the mission of One Love International. He lives that mandate: giving hope, sharing love, and inspiring progress.

Gratefully, I am the man I am today thanks to the loving, caring and supportive father he purposed to be in my life. Words cannot express the depth and dimensions of this great man of valour. Nevertheless, dwelling within his love and gentleness, allows you to. My siblings and I are truly blessed to have always had a good and godly father in our lives. May God give Aston Brown the fortitude and determination to continue being an exemplary and sterling ambassador to all the men and fathers in Jamaica and around the world.

The man whose clothes I (from 13 to 25 years old) was privileged to iron and whose shoes I polished has taught me so many priceless lessons about life, and he is inarguably today the most influential role model in my life. In closing, the adage “like father like son” gives me pause. If only I and others could walk in the footsteps of this great man in our lifetimes… What a better place the world would be!

Happy Father’s Day dad

Sudden shock hit the family when my beloved father had to be rushed to the hospital in April. Late diagnosis and delayed intervention almost cost him his life. A ruptured appendix resulting in blood poisoning, coupled with pneumonia and kidney complications, almost sent him to his grave. Earnest prayers from all over the globe resulted in him still being alive today, thanks to God’s grace and mercy. While on his recovery bed in his fourth week in the hospital, my father spoke to me via telephone at 1:00 am, saying he wanted to get out as soon as possible so he could give the children of some higglers in Coronation Market, downtown Kingston, some books, pens, pencils and other school supplies. Due to his bedridden state he will have to wait until he can walk properly again. Surely, his commitment to his purpose and mission in helping humanity helps to keep him alive.

Krishna Brown is a former head boy of Kingston College and director of One Love International.