“I am so sorry to hear about your loss”. “My sympathy to you and family”. “My condolences to your family”. “Rest in peace”. I wrote those sentences so many times over the past months on FB, private message or by telephone. I had no idea it will be my turn was around the corner to receive over one thousand of these same messages. My dad recently went to be with the Lord. He was an amazing man who touched many lives and he did it effortlessly.

My dad asked for NOTHING but give EVERYTHING.
I will forever treasure all the many memorable moments I shared with my dad. Even the moment his hand got limp in my hand and the line on the monitor flattened.
I look at him in the casket as if he was peacefully sleeping and I wondered if he knew the impact he made .

He was a very special person and I feel compelled to share his eulogy with you.

To Captain- A life of legacy
For those of you who know anything about rivers in Guyana, you’d know that those who traverse them require apt command, versatility and a sturdy hand. For those of you who know the might of our Mazaruni river, you’d be sure that the above is true times one hundred. There is unspoken beauty to the might possessed by Allan John, but almost in equal part is the ability to move with such humility that the loudest thing about his living is the legacy he now leaves us.

In Kurupukari Guyana, sometime in the month of May 1952, a love shared between Marjorie John and Alfred Sway would lead to the birth of Allan John on February 3, 1953. The third child of a total of seven children, Allan attended the St.John the Baptist Primary School in Bartica.

When it came to family, Allan seemed to have one manoeuvre, he always went “Full throttle” on love. His love was selfless, always accelerated and powerful. It might have had much to do do with the love that began when he met Claudia Gibson in 1983. Together they managed to sustain a union for several yrs, one that saw the fusion of a blended family that would be able to raise numerous rounded adults. His love for his children; all of them, was a thing that couldn’t go unnoticed. He was a provider, a solver of problems and a good husband. His quiet demeanour lent to his ability to observe and his welcoming spirit was a delight especially for visitors to his home.

Kaikuchi or Tiger will always remain names that command respect in the interior transportation sector. In fact, since his death, it became clear that there was a pedestal he belonged on among fellow boat captains both young and old. His name meant security and trust; his skill was unmatched and those who plied their trade like him can credit how well he did it.

His children will always have stories to tell of him, like childhood adventures of grey hair picking or the days of endless laughter that came at the cost of dad’s ever-present sense of humour. His nieces and nephews won’t ever forget the tender connection or care they found in him, be it as their guardian and protector from licks or maker of the most massive pot bake one could imagine. You see there are parts of a person that escape the grasp of time and space, things that outlive their very existence on earth. Uncle Allan took time to craft some things about him, things we must now hold dear until we meet him again.

We mustn’t forget how much he loved to read or neglect to tell his grandchildren of his success in reading the entire bible almost twice. This simple but profound thing might be the reason he was so full of kindness to share. I hope each of us can emulate his desire to be early for church, hope we never forget how he’d leave even if he was the only one ready. There are also the fun things about him that will inspire a giggle here and there and be proof that he lived a fun-filled life. His affinity for curry, or the way he could zone out all background noises if he wanted to focus on sports news. Even the way each of his calls ended in “well tek it light deh”.

April 2020, is painful. After a week of illness and just over 24 hours in a medical facility, Allan John, captain of the Mazaruni journeyed to another shore. His transition happening on 22nd April 2020, sometime around 4:00hrs.

Allan Tiger John lived a life that embodied love much like that of Christ. His was a giving love that demanded nothing but freely gave everything. He has left a legacy for his wife Claudia, children grandchildren and many relatives and friends.

Let’s us live every day like it is our last because one day it will be. The pic I shared is his casket at the top of the boat to Bartica and the boat he captained for years in the background.

Send us an email (beyondtherunway1@gmail.com )sharing how you would like people to remember you as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.