A man for all seasons

I FIRST met Easton Douglas in May 2009 in the capacity as one of his physicians to which I will not deliberate for obvious reasons – confidentiality.

I liken Douglas to ‘A Man for All Seasons’, a phrase coined to describe the English statesman and scholar of the 15th century, Sir Thomas More. A man for all seasons refers to a man who is ready to cope with any contingency and whose behaviour is always appropriate for every occasion.

In our several conversations together over the years, which ranged from his adventures in bird shooting, tennis tournaments (especially if the player was Roger Federer), topical issues and flavour happenings of each month to descriptions of beauty of his beloved country, Jamaica, I came to realise he was a man of integrity, loyalty, deep convictions, true to himself and his beliefs – traits similar to those of Sir Thomas More.

Despite his many achievements and national honours he displayed humility and recognised that we all had our failings and were vulnerable beings.

Douglas faced his illness and various forms of treatments with courage and optimism, and as his health failed he accepted and embraced the inevitable outcome with grace and unfaltering dignity.

Rest well, Easton Douglas. You will be forever missed.

DR JENNIFER THAME MULLINGS