SEAN JACKMAN
When I received a call from Jackie Massiah six years ago I assumed it was the usual old talk about football or carnival. After exchanging pleasantries, Jackie with an unusual serious tone explained to me that the son of his boyhood friend (Roy) was about to attend Howard U. and he wanted me to “look out” for him. That was the third recommendation for Sean Jackman.
(Arthur Alexander and Reggie Renrick had made previous recommendations)
Sean blazed the trail at Howard U. by raising the bar for excellence as a student and a person. As his advisor I witnessed first hand his determination and focus as he went about identifying challenges and meticulously formulating solutions. His burning desire to succeed, masked by his cool and calm demeanor, exemplified itself in every goal that he had identified. Sean success at Howard U. is well documented however his humanity is what distinguished him from other students. A giving and helpful person he was willing to listen and provide advice to other students as they dealt with the day to day challenges that come with being a student.
On occasions whenever Jackie inquired about Sean’s progress and is told about his accomplishment, he beamed with pride as he explained the close relationship that he has with his father, “one of the boys from Dundonald Street T’dad”, and boast that Sean was destine to carry the mantle forward as the “fruit does not fall far from the tree”.
Last Monday I made a painful call to Jackie to inform him that Sean died over the weekend. After dealing with the initial shock and enquiring about the little information I had received regarding the incident surrounding his death, Jackie excused himself to call and console this friend and to inform the “boys from Dundonald Street” that one of their heroes had fallen.
Condolences to his family and friends.
He will be missed.
