Shah Melville Anthony Hosein

Shah was born on February 17, 1938 to Sybil (Neé Jugmahonsingh) and Yusuf Hosein at Fairley Street in Tunapuna, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago where he was raised along with five younger siblings: Juliet, Enid, Rolph, Rodney and Eman.

Growing up, he was an athlete and a scholar. Throughout his high school career, he usually came first in his class and he played Table Tennis and Cricket. One of Shah's most memorable athletic achievements was his performance in the first cricket match in which he represented his school, St. Mary's College in Port of Spain, Trinidad, against their arch rival, QRC, making runs in the double digits!! ...10 runs. One might argue that his more noteworthy athletic achievement was that of National Table Tennis champion for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago but he was proud of those 10 runs!

In his university years at University College of the West Indies (UCWI), Mona Campus, Jamaica, Shah continued in these sports, both competitively and recreationally. In addition to his academic and sports achievements at UCWI, he was a member of The Block A Chorale. Shah continued his domination in Table Tennis securing the title of National Champion in Jamaica. He went on to represent Jamaica in the Caribbean championship, winning the title against his former teammates of the Trinidad national team. He graduated with honors with a B.Sc. in Chemistry. In his adult years, he added golf and lawn tennis to his sports repertoire. Shah was also a sports fan and enjoyed watching boxing, football (soccer), tennis and cricket – live, of course!

Shah's friendships were enduring – his oldest friendship being as old as he. While growing up, in addition to his siblings, some of his best friends were Carl Thorpe, Jewan Singh, Rhona Baptiste and Pat Bishop, among others. That circle grew in his university years to include Lawrence "Carrie" Carrington, Trevor Carrington, George “Gemmie” Morris, Sandra Smith, Trevor Monroe, Joseph “Baba” Charles, “Skinny” Fletcher, Lawrence “Coach” Wedderburn, Neville Bramwell, Jimmy Carnegie amongst many others. Later in life, he became friends with Ripton Savin, whom Shah first met when he was 17, Pat and Rita Chan, D.P. and Pansy Beckford, Shirley and Barbara Buchanan, Seymour and Sheila Brown, Calvin and Marcia Bodden, Horace and Yvonne Neil, Pat and Karlene Thompson, John and Cherie Watson, Keith and Rose Gentles, Ewan and Lucinde Fletcher, Karl and Dede Welsh, Audley and Maureen Shaw, Eddie and Enid Edwards, Heather and Charmaine Robinson, Art Williams, Daphne Linton, Yuclen Freeman, Robert and Beverley Stewart, Lydia Pat Gibbs, Karl Simpson, Clinton Barrett, Herman Graham, Lee Graham, Bunny Dugan, Bert Johnston, Cliff and Emily Malcolm, Hopeton McCatty, Hugh and Dor Ingram, Conrad Moo Penn, Ed Lynn, Jennifer Forbes, to name only a few - very few. Once a friend, always a friend.

On Saturday, 23rd of November, 1963 Shah married Josephine Elaine Marie Dusman Wedderburn. Together, they were blessed with five children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; dogs: Spooky and Facety, white Alsatians; Delco and Nikky, German Shepherds; and Tito, a Japanese Akita. Shah incorporated the entire Wedderburn family, with all its extensions, as his own.

For many years, Shah served the Mandeville community as a volunteer teacher for JAMAL - the country's adult literacy program. Politically, Shah was a supporter of the People's National Party, once headed by the brilliant democratic socialist, Michael Manley. Religiously, he was a member of St. Paul of the Cross Roman Catholic Church in Mandeville, Jamaica. Socially, he religiously attended the Alcan Badminton Club, where he played tennis, the Manchester Club, where he played golf, Kirkvine Sports Club, where he played cricket, and the bar at all three for a favorite pastime, rum-shop talk.

Shah retired completely in 2013 when his beloved wife of 50 years, Jo died. In retirement, he found pleasure in gardening (he supervised the maintenance of his botanical gardens, which had been his wife's pride and joy) and karaoke (his singing was not the greatest, but he sang with feeling). In November of 2021, Shah hesitantly relocated to Port St. Lucie with his son, Marcel and Marcel’s wife, Paula, to be near his children and grandchildren - conflicted between what he was coming to, and what he was leaving behind.

Shah faced with humor a brief battle with end-stage congestive heart failure and on March 12, 2022, died peacefully at home. His daughter, Roxanne, was at his side holding his hand; other children and grandchildren were home with him.

He was preceded in death by his parents Sybil and Yusuf, his wife and partner of 50 years, Josephine, (Neé Wedderburn), his brother, Rodney, and brother-in-law, Ian Newman.

He is survived by 4 of his siblings: Juliet Zaidi, Enid Newman, Rolph (Deanne Chung), Eman (Claudette Riley); children: Monique (Robin Randall), Roxanne (Ingram Powell), Marcel (Paula Shaw), Michael (Nicole Dehaney), Karim (Trecia Matthews); grandchildren, Jared Levy (Martha Schreiber), Josephine, Joshua, Shah, Hayley Bain, Omar, Ilana Randall and Erin Afflick; great-grandchildren: Calvin and Lawson Levy; in-laws Pat Smith, Noella Wedderburn and Janet Bathea; cousins; numerous nieces and nephews; and many dear, life-long friends.

Shah's remains will be scattered in Jamaica at his beloved home, Sanbaroca, and in his homeland, Trinidad.

Rest in peace

Shah (To all)

M.A. Hosein (Professionally)

Pardoff (To The Boyz - his university fellows)

Daddy (To his children)

Grandpa (To his grandchildren)

Grandpa Shah (To his great-grandchildren)

The Mayor of Sanbaroca (To his community)