THERE coudn’t have been a venue more appropriate to celebrate the life of R Danny Williams.

Afterall, the insurance giant, philanthropist and humanitarian had dedicated most of his 89 years on Earth to developing his alma mater, Jamaica College (JC). And he did so, successfully, while serving his country with distinction.

Therefore, on Saturday morning his family, friends, associates, business and political leaders spent just over three hours inside Karl Hendrickson Auditorium at JC reflecting on the life of the man who passed on September 17, 2023 and who former Prime Minister PJ Patterson, in his printed tribute, labelled “a gigantic icon” whose “place in the pantheon of corporate leadership and entrepreneurial enterprise sets him apart”.

Ahead of the service, the strains of American singer Kenny Rogers’ 1981 ballad Through The Years — which celebrates a long-time couple who have stuck together through thick and thin — filled the auditorium in an apparent salute to Williams’ 69 years of marriage to his wife Shirley.

Guests were drawn to a large screen mounted on the stage — decorated in JC’s “true blue” and white — showing vignettes of Williams and his family, voice recordings of him and, with each break in the images the potent message: “Danny, thank you for making a difference.”

Anecdotes of Williams’ fund-raising skills lightened the mood, so too did JC Acting Principal Wayne Robinson’s declaration that Williams kept a little book with the names and numbers of people and, “If you’re not in the book, you weren’t anybody.”

Laughter and expressions of ,”It’s true” greeted Robinson’s recollection that one of Williams’ more famous quotes was, “Don’t buy dog and bark”, meaning let those who you hire to do a job, do the job.

“He was the epitome of the most remarkable human being I have ever met,” Robinson said to applause. “Our size-10 foot cannot fit Danny’s size-20 foot… he made a big difference to this country.”

Williams’ passing was particularly hard on the management and staff at Sagicor Group, the company spawned from Life of Jamaica which he founded in 1970 and built into one of the largest insurance firms in the Caribbean.

Sagicor Group President and CEO Christopher Zacca, flanked by Sagicor Bank CEO Chorvelle Johnson and Sagicor Life Chief Revenue Officer Mark Chisholm, struggled to contain his emotions as he paid tribute to the man whose life, he said, “was defined by purpose, compassion, and an unshakeable commitment to Jamaica”.

He noted that Williams dedicated his life to serving Jamaica, and described his contributions to Sagicor and the country as “nothing short of extraordinary”.

“Danny was not just a giant in the figurative sense [as] his accomplishments were not just impressive, they were monumental. He was not just a leader within Sagicor, he was a beloved member of our family — and his love for us was reciprocated by the deep affection we had for him,” Zacca said.

“From humble beginnings to becoming a titan of industry Danny’s journey was nothing short of remarkable. The most important part of his journey was that each step along the way included people — the building and development of people. His career was a testament to his unwavering dedication to Jamaica’s growth and development,” Zacca said of the man who in the 1970s answered an appeal from then Prime Minister Michael Manley to serve the country as minister of industry and commerce.

Jamaica College Trust Chairman Derek Jones, who gave a tribute on behalf of the school, said Williams’ love for JC was limitless.

“Nothing was too much for him to try to do. He knew he needed to transform the school, so he did it. He knew it needed money, so he raised it. He knew it needed his time, so he gave it. He knew he could not do it alone, so he inspired others to help. He knew it needed his presence, so he came here himself. He knew this was not a job for the weary, so he drew strength from very deep down. He knew the boys needed to see him, so he made himself seen,” Jones said.

Jamaica Broilers Group Chairman Robert Levy, who knew Williams from the 1970s, elicited applause when he noted that his company’s tribute described Williams as the most successful businessman ever in Jamaica.

The measurement of that success, Levy said, was not the size of the business Williams had developed but rather, “It was that I never, ever heard anybody — whether rich or poor — speak badly about Danny. On the flip side, I never heard Danny speak badly about anyone,” he said, adding that Williams possessed “the highest quality of humanity”.

He praised Williams’ wife for the role she played in their marriage, and offered a prayer for her and her family.

Williams’ granddaughter Ruth Browne’s tribute came in the form of Frank Sinatra’s My Way, as instructed by the business mogul before his passing, while Suzanne Williams, Marcelle Heerschap, Raby Williams Jr and Bridgette Azan — the surviving four of his six children — highlighted his ability to balance running business with dedication to his family.

He was always present at important events for his children, including graduations and prize-givings. “He celebrated and made each of us feel very special when we accomplished anything in life,” they said, adding that both their parents were deeply involved in their educational development.

They also remembered him as an affectionate, hospitable father who enjoyed hugging his children and who encouraged them to pursue their passions, work hard, give generously, and treat each person with dignity and respect.

Other tributes were delivered by grandson Joel Azan and Williams’ long-time friend and former business colleague Mike Fennell.

One of the most moving of the tributes came from Williams’ wife in the form of the Celine Dion classic Because You Loved Me, delivered in fine form by Dwight Richards.

At the 1972 Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards the Government invested Williams with the Commander of the Order of Distinction. Two decades later, in 1993, the Government made him a member of the Order of Jamaica, the country’s fourth-highest national honour.

Just before the conclusion of Saturday’s service it was announced that his cremated remains will be interred in a private ceremony.