Pint-sized person, gallon-sized heart—Gregory Trujillo
By Hannibal Najjar (T&T Guardian)I preface this most deserving tribute to my friend Gregory Trujillo with a statement that has always been the driving force in my life. The statement gives me the passion in all of my life’s undertakings—it reads—“The hunger for love is greater than the hunger for food” (Mother Theresa). To feel loved, appreciated, and cared for without a need to reciprocate or repay, yields ominous joy and a conviction that the recipient contributes, thrives, and conquers. That is what this tribute is all about. The decades of the 60s and 70s produced a foray of formidable football fellows in T&T. They developed their skills, love and passion for the game in high school and club rivalries that our nation has been unable to reproduce in the 40-to-50 years since. Gregory Trujillo was one of those players. A simple and humble person with an engaging smile who, in his playing days followed by his days as a sports journalist with the Trinidad Guardian, did what he could to always promote football and the qualities that made fine men in T&T.
Gregory left this life last June 30. When he had called me to tell me about his illness, we shared a silence across the ocean that separated us, he in T&T and I, in St Louis, Missouri.
The mutual silence marked our reminiscing of the years we had played together, our off-the field encounters, and sharing when I coached national and local club football in Trinidad and abroad. During our call we talked finances, medication, personnel involved, and related ergonomics that were associated with his new challenge. He was not full-time employed and his hospitalisation made matters challenging. There, a thought surfaced and I told him that I would get back to him on it. We spoke of his two children, Dario and Rosario, and, I obtained their phone numbers for further contact. In discussing the personnel involved, I learnt that my good friend Dr Alvin Henderson was involved with his case, and that pleased me. As Gregory requested, we prayed on the phone and I asked God to increase my understanding in matters as this, as my friend was hurting. He concluded, “Hanni, I love you man”, words that still soothe my ears and bring peace to my spirit. “Love you too Gregory, even if you belonged to the other Saints”—Belmont, not St Mary’s—we chuckled at this tease.
Acting on the “thought” that surfaced during that phone call, I spoke to my good friend, Mr Norman Sabga of the ANSA-McAL Group, and asked him to contact Gregory. Norman delivered on his word encouraging Gregory and expressing gratitude for his service to the company. Gregory called me to tell me how happy Norman’s call made him. A few days later, as Gregory prepared for surgery, I spoke with Rosario at the hospital and she told me that he was in such good spirits. I write this article as a tribute to Gregory and a fading era in T&T football. CIC and Belmont, a rivalry built on a love for life and the game, respect and a desire to excel and exceed, and, a need to play against and beat the best to become the best. It was an era in which we did not just shrug off losses, but one that epitomised the ecstasy of victory and the agony of defeat because we appreciated the quality of the “opposition.” Just today, as we put Gregory’s remains (ashes) to rest at the Lapeyrouse Cemetery, Kelvin “Skippy” Lawrence and Brian Trujillo (Belmont), and Ian “Charla” Dore and myself (CIC) and daughter, two sisters, wife, and mother, stood side-by-side respecting the near, unconquerable opposition of death.
Yes, 1960’s and 1970’s CIC and Belmont (and QRC)—an Intercol and League rivalry that recognised that bragging rights require you to play and beat the best. Alvin Henderson, Ian Bain, and Michael Cooper, Steve Waldron, Russell Teixeira, Wayne Dopson, and Mark Kendal (CIC) and, Winfield St Hill, George Romano, Gordon Husbands, Kelvin “Skippy” Lawrence, and Ian “Phil” Garcia (Belmont) did; Trevor Leiba, Luciano Woodley (CIC) and Wayne Lewis and Brian Trujillo (Belmont) did; and though I was an active “Fellow” of the earlier-mentioned CIC teams, I cherish isolating the next matching pair—Hannibal Najjar (CIC) and Gregory Trujillo (Belmont) did. Apologies are extended to all those “Fellows” that were not mentioned in this tribute—unquestionably, you have all made Trojan’s contributions to this game, country, and “love affair”. Thank you Belmont! As this photo of our 2007 Old Boys Ash Wednesday match reminds me, young men or older, we love the beautiful game. Thank you for your gentle-spiritedness and laughter and for our meaningful discussions that we always shared, as one might imagine was taking place from the looks of this photo. Gregory Trujillo, you will be missed for I believe that you and the entire Trujillo clan lived out the Bible verse of Micah 6:8, that we “Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God”.
I hope that I have not caused you hurt or disappointment in our times spent together. Thank you Gregory!
Late Trinidad Guardian sports reporter Gregory Trujillo,
left, chats with Hannibal Najjar at the 2007 Old Boys Ash
Wednesday football match.
