Jacques Cham Augustin

Jacques Cham Augustin was born to Rose Carmen Dieudonne Cesar and Vertus Augustin in Jacmel, Haiti, Jacques is one of 5 children. He is survived by his brothers Jean Elie & Ernst, and sisters Liline and Astrid, who passed away in 2017.

Jacques completed his primary studies at Jean Marie Guilloux Primary School in 1962, and his secondary schooling at Petit Seminaire College St. Martial in July 1969. In June 1970 he completed his baccalaureate studies and a month later he emigrated to the U.S. to join his mother and siblings.

Jacques and family settled in Brooklyn, NY and he worked various jobs, including as a factory worker, carpet layer, and yellow cab driver. In 1971 he obtained a drafting school certification. Next Jacques enrolled in the New School for Social Research to become more fluent in English in keeping with his mantra "education is power". In 1974 he enrolled in Hunter College where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 1978. He went on to Hunter College where he received his Master's Degree in Physical Therapy in 1981.

Jacques married his wife Marie Augustin (nee Duval) on the steps of New York City Hall in 1981 during their lunch breaks on an otherwise routine workday. Shortly thereafter their first son Serge was born in January 1982. At that time Jacques was the Director of Physical Therapy at a rehab center in Jamaica, Queens, which would soon become an A rated facility. Later in 1982 he opened his first physical therapy office in Park Slope Brooklyn. He partnered with orthopedists and physiatrists in Brooklyn and Manhattan to build a highly successful physical therapy center. Always seeking to provide the best possible care to his patients, he obtained his certificate in Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in 1983.

In 1985 a second son, Stephen was born to Jacques and Marie, and later that year Jacques began teaching physical therapy at Laguardia College in Queens, NY. In 1994 Jacques accepted the position of adjunct professor at FIU and moved his family to Coral Springs, Florida.

In his never-ending quest for self improvement Jacques delved into the world of financial services while maintaining his busy schedule as a University Professor. He opened an office that provided a broad range of financial services, and then merged his two passions by opening a school to train students to become life insurance agents.

Those who knew Jacques would attest to his willingness to give sound advice, to provide assistance, to be a source of encouragement, and to share his broad knowledge with all those he met. He had a love of music, was an avid reader, reveled in political debate, loved Westerns, and above all, loved his family, including his grandchildren, Maliyah and Javier.

He will be missed by everyone who knew him.