media_centre :: 2011

Farewell Ali St Louis

Hundreds gather to pay tribute to track livewire

Kwame Laurence :: Trinidad Express :: ArticleDate

The casket bearing the remains of Ali St Louis was lowered at 3.24 p.m., yesterday, at the Los Bajos Cemetery, in south Trinidad, signaling the end of a life well lived.

Earlier, hundreds gathered at the Bethel Pentecostal Church, in Arima, to bid farewell to St Louis, whose life was snatched away at age 52 in a vehicular accident in Mausica, last Sunday. Among the mourners were double Olympic silver medallist Richard Thompson and 2009 World Championship bronze medallist Josanne Lucas.

St Louis was a top class athlete, himself, representing Trinidad and Tobago in the men's 400 metres, at the 1984 Olympic Games, in Los Angeles, USA.

A retired soldier, St Louis was employed with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) at the time of his death. He was also a track and field coach, and a member of the executive committee of the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA).

In a tearful eulogy, St Louis' eldest daughter, Candace St Louis, described him as "the best father one could wish for".

"He was someone who always placed others' needs in front of his own."

St Louis had five daughters—Candace, Shade, Britany, Alisha and Aquilla. All five followed in his footsteps, becoming track and field athletes.

"He encouraged the girls," Candace said in her eulogy, "to surpass his achievements…represent Trinidad and Tobago at the Olympics.

"He lives on in each and every one of us—in our hearts and our memories.

"You will always be our hero. We'll be alright."

Candace then paid tribute to her father in song, stirring emotions with her rendition of Luther Vandross' "Dance with my father".

St Louis' wife, Portia St Louis is a track and field coach as well. Their son, Ajay, was also in last Sunday's accident. He attended the funeral with a neck brace.

There were tributes yesterday from NAAA president Ephraim Serrette and CCC's Carlos Taylor.

"His death," Serrette said, "is a tremendous blow to Trinidad and Tobago athletics."

St Louis was head coach of the T&T team at the 2011 Carifta Games, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and was also part of the coaching staff at the Pan American Junior Championships, in Florida, USA.

Following the funeral service, many made the long trek to Los Bajos for St Louis' burial. The 1984 Olympian was laid to rest just a couple miles from his hometown, Palo Seco.

St Louis loved track and field, and devoted his life to the sport. It was a fitting tribute to the quarter-miler that track was discussed for many hours after his burial, first in Los Bajos, and then at his family home in Palo Seco. Quite appropriately, the "panel" included two-time Olympic 400m finalist Ian Morris, one of St Louis' rivals on the track in the 1980s, and Kenny Bermudez, the coach at his first club, Palo Seco Sporting Club.

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