The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica received with deep regret news of the passing of Dr. Neville Gallimore, a committed member of the Church and a faithful servant of God.
In commenting on his passing, Pastor Everett Brown, President of Jamaica Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists said, “Dr. Gallimore was our brother and friend. I recall that as a young pastor, I served in the Brown’s Town District of Churches, and he was a member of the Devon Church that was part of that circuit. Because I was dependent on public transportation at that time, he would graciously volunteer to transport me to my various congregations on numerous Sabbaths, for which I was most appreciative.”
“He exemplified humility and kindness of which the Church as a whole and many persons individually, were grateful beneficiaries,” Brown continued. “His home was always a very busy thoroughfare with his many constituents coming and going as they sought his help in various ways. He even engaged them in a branch Sabbath School at his home before the St. D’Acre congregation was started.”
“The Alexandria Church and the congregation he was instrumental in organizing next to his house at St. D’Acre benefitted from his generosity and commitment to building up the Kingdom of Grace. He and his family donated generously to various church projects and he devoted time and effort to many causes.”
Dr. Gallimore passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2020 in California, USA. He was 81. At the time of his passing, Dr. Gallimore was a member of the Northern Caribbean University Board of Governors.
“As Chairman of the Board, I was always appreciative of his wise and insightful interventions at meetings and during our one to one conversations.”
His love of farming was no secret and many benefitted immensely from his generosity as a ‘farmer’ as he lavishly supplied with fruits of various kinds and other produce from his farm. He took great pride and pleasure in giving everyone the grand tour to see his plants and animals.
“He always had time to spend with friends and acquaintances; and he kept us supplied lavishly with boxes or bags of fruits and other produce from his farm. His mantra was “You must service your friendships,” Brown quipped.
“I learned a long time ago that I should not call in on Dr. Gallimore at St. D’Acre House on my way to anywhere unless I had a lot of time to spare. He was a welcoming host, a stalwart Jamaican and a consummate public servant. We will miss him.”
“On behalf of the Adventist Church family, we extend condolences to his widow, Dr. Angella Gallimore, his sons and daughters and other members of his family. The Church mourns with you and we assure you of our prayers and support during this very difficult time.” Brown added.
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Condolences to the Gallimore’s family . “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, they rest from their labour and their work do follow them”. May the good he did live after him.
That was a worthy tribute from a Pastoral perspective to Dr. Gallimore’s life and it seems to me that its principal author was our Union President, Pastor Everret Brown. I was pleased to read it. Thank you Pastor.
It somehow somewhat assuaged my disappointment that while NCU could offer a public tribute to the life of Mr. Oliver Clarke but it could find none to give for the life of Dr. Neville Gallimore, our own – an Alumnus that we Alumni can all be proud of and a foundation pillar of what is now NCU.
As a student Dr. Gallimore distinguished himself as the Cadet Lieutenant (Leader) of the West Indian Training College Medical Cadet Core which so distinguished itself in the rescue and treatment of many the 1957 Kendal train crash victims. Of course, that was a different generation and not many will now remember that.
Dr. Gallimore was pivotal to the development of West Indies College into Northern Caribbean University. I dare say that without him we would not have a university. As the Minister of Education in 1986, it was he who piloted that educational ground breaking Legislation that established the University Council of Jamaica. This Council was established to set standards, audit academic programmes and provided accreditation to those tertiary level programmes at colleges and universities that met its standards. West Indies College was the first and therefore primary beneficiary of this legislation. So far as I am aware, apart from UWI, West Indies College (WIC) was the only Jamaican institution offering degree level programmes. Graduates with (WIC) degrees were not being recognized or given equivalence of merit with graduates from UWI by the Government and the broader society. The establishment of the University Council of Jamaica by Dr. Gallimore substantially changed all that.
Under the University Council’s guidance West Indies College was able to achieve accreditation for several of its major degree offerings. Its graduates thereby achieved parity of pay and recognition within the government sector and subsequently in Industry and Commerce. This increased recognition was a considerable spur or stimulus to the marketability of West Indies College. The dramatic increase in recognition of its graduates boosted demand for its degrees and enabled it to transform itself from a small College of around 500 -700 students into a Chartered Northern Caribbean university of over 5,000 students by 2007. Dr. Gallimore’s significant role in this development must not be forgotten.
Dr. Gallimore will be remembered by many for his commitment to his church as a devoted Seventh-day Adventist, for his geniality, for his warmth and for his kindness to students through his philanthropy. He is a man who, deservedly, should be long remembered for the significant impact which God enabled him to have the successful growth and development of Northern Caribbean University and its students.
Now he rests. Lets meet him again in the morning, when the First Trump shall sound, and the dead in Christ shall arise.
Condolences to the family if Dr Neville Gallimore! Rest in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, in these times.