Lascelles Chin remembered as a down-to-earth dad
Published:Thursday | June 29, 2023 | 1:24 AMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
While diplomats reflected yesterday on the philanthropic business leader the late Lascelles Chin became throughout his 86 years of life, his daughter, Lisa Watts, spoke instead of how her down-to-earth father took her to a club for the very first time.
That is a side of Chin that up to his death, many never knew. Unlike the average parent, he was ‘cool’ enough to allow his teenage daughter at the time to unwind and let her hair down on the dance floor.
That memory is one she will forever cherish, and she believes that his love for music and dancing inspired that act.
“He worked hard, but he played hard, too, and definitely made an effort to enjoy life while building his empire. Dad, we’re sure you’re still dancing up a storm. Dad had an infectious sense of humour, always cracking jokes and telling stories ... even if the joke was corny, his delivery was impeccable and typically resulted in loads of laughter,” Watts said.
“We will always remember his playful and mischievous side. Always adventurous, with a deep love for life and living. He loved travelling and seeing new places and took us on several family vacations. If there was a holiday, we were either driving around Jamaica enjoying the beautiful vegetation in the air or at a hotel on a family adventure. Anyone who knows our father understood that he always prioritised family,” she said.
Watts also reflected on the numerous domino games they played together as a family based on the push factor of their father.
“A lot of family bonding happened while breaking bread and dropping six love. These occasions were usually filled with lively chatter and banter between us that always had us in stitches,” she said, smiling.
At the service of thanksgiving, which was held at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity in downtown Kingston on Wednesday, she was the first of the mourners to offer a tribute.