Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The death of one of Montego Bay's stalwarts, John Marzouca, has been counted, by many, as a major loss.

Marzouca, who up to the time of his death, was the director of the Hope Hospice in Albion, St James, perished in a fire at his home in Bogue Heights early Monday morning.

Acting Chapter Manager of the Jamaica Aids Support for Life (JASL) in Montego Bay, Devon Cammock, with whom Marzouca worked very closely, said it was "a sad day for the members of the JASL".

Cash donation

He remembers Marzouca, or Johnny as he was affectionately called, as one of the first persons to make cash donation towards the work being done by JASL. He said the popular businessman, who then had a store on Market Street in Montego Bay, was especially concerned with persons living with HIV/AIDS.

"The relationship between Johnny and JAS had grown over the years and he became a volunteer and also a staff member," Cammock said, "He was trained as a friends volunteer and that training took him to a point where he was working hands on and being a friend to persons living with HIV and AIDS."

He further stated, "Even though Johnny was no longer a staff member here, as he was now working full time from the hospice, we still had a very close working relationship and his involvement with us still remained."

Marzouca - described as a devout Christian - was actively involved in the Sacred Heart Mission in Chester Castle, Hanover, and Cambridge in St James.

"It was my distinct honour and pleasure to have conferred upon Johnny, the Medal of Good Merit awarded by Pope Benedict XVI at the launch of the 40th anniversary of the diocese of Montego Bay awards in November 2006," stated the Most Rev Charles Dufour, Roman Catholic Bishop of Montego Bay.

Silent servant

Father Timothy Kidney of the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, said: "What is outstanding about him is that he was very quiet about what he was doing. He was a silent servant of God. He was a big man, physically and spiritually, but he never made a big deal of himself."

Kidney told The Gleaner that, as a member of the National Catholic Board for HIV/AIDS, Marzouca would visit the homes of persons living with the disease and prepare them to go to the hospice for treatment.

"I remember going into the hills with him and he would stop and talk to people; he knew all of them and he knew their needs and he did all he could to help them."

A liturgical mass of thanks-giving will be held in celebration of Marzouca's life at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral on Saturday, June 14 at 2 p.m.