PATRICK “Pat” Rousseau was eulogised a first-rate negotiator, a visionary and a generous soul who contributed significantly to Jamaica’s development during his lifetime.

“In the field of public service Pat served his country in many areas. His most significant contribution was as chairman and chief negotiator of the new Jamaica bauxite agreement in 1973, which had a major impact on the budget of Jamaica at the time,” said his brother Peter while offering the remembrance at yesterday’s service at University Chapel on the Mona campus.

Rousseau, who was an esteemed attorney, successful businessman and president of West Indies cricket between 1996 and 2001, died on April 16, age 85.

Peter gave anecdotes of his brother, who was born January 4, 1934, as a top-notch negotiator from their boyhood days, the apparent springboard which lifted him to prominence in public and private sector circles.

He recounted that Patrick joined the law firm Myers, Fletcher and Gordon as an associate in 1963 before moving up the ranks to managing partner. At the time of death, he was a consultant for the firm.

He noted that while Patrick served as chairman for Cement Company of Jamaica, Caymanas Park Limited and Desnoes and Geddes, Patrick was “devoted” to insurance company Life Of Jamaica, which he chaired for close to 25 years.

Rousseau’s part in securing better terms for Jamaica in the bauxite/alumina industry, saw him being recognised with the Order of Jamaica in 1976 for his contribution to nation building.

Rousseau’s time in charge of regional cricket saw the board landing a ground-breaking international television deal, and earning the right to host the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Cricket followers will recall Rousseau’s response in flying to London in 1998 to avert the withdrawal of services by West Indies cricketers who were set to go on a tour of South Africa.

Peter told those gathered inside and outside the chapel that his brother was a real estate investor, and aside from sports, had a passion for arts, music and culture.

“He loved sports, and he learnt to love it from he was young. He loved hockey, he loved cricket, he loved football, he loved slow horses and boxing,” he said, drawing chuckles from the audience due to the joke regarding his brother’s involvement as owner and breeder in the horse racing industry.

“His was a life well-lived; full of drive, integrity, [and] commitment. He leaves behind for his beloved family and friends a legacy of service… in many fields of endeavour,” Peter added, while pointing out that the remembrance “cannot totally capture the generosity of spirit, the strength of his friendships, [and] his pro bono activities”.

In addition, Rousseau left his mark on the media landscape on a number of counts. Most recently, he and prominent entrepreneur Chris Dehring were founders of Caribbean sports network SportsMax.

“This was a giant of a man; Jamaica has really lost a very special negotiator, thinker, [and] visionary,” said Dehring, who had also served as West Indies cricket’s chief marketing executive.

“From the very early days when we used to negotiate on behalf of West Indies cricket and the ICC (International Cricket Council) he was a man amongst men. There is nobody he would be intimidated by, and in most cases he would intimidate them. But at the end of the day he also had a very kind and generous soul,” Dehring told the Jamaica Observer after yesterday’s service.

Dehring, the chief executive officer of cable television company ReadyTV, said Rousseau had the capacity to see the bigger picture in a way that helped him (Dehring) to evolve as a businessman.

“You can’t put yourself on the same planet as Pat Rousseau, you learn so much from people like him. He taught me the process of negotiation from start to finish, and [of] closing a deal — to never get up from the table until you get exactly what you want. We had wonderful times in which I just sat and watched the master at work, and then tried to emulate in [my] own style.

“How I had seen SportsMax, he had a much grander vision for it. Yes, I saw the potential and I had the idea, [but] when I went to him he was so far ahead of me in how he was thinking.

“He taught me how to expand the boundary, think beyond Jamaica, think beyond where you think your current resources are, but where your resources can be. I’ve just been very fortunate that people like himself came in my life and changed my own direction and trajectory,” Dehring said.