'He was such a nice guy' - Sports fraternity mourns passing of Howie Chin

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

The parish of Manchester and by extension the sports fraternity is in mourning after the unexpected loss of one of its most recognised citizens and avid supporter of sports, businessman Howie Chin.

Chin, whose family operates the famous Brumalia House, one of Mandeville's long-standing businesses which is situated along one of its busiest thoroughfare at the corner of Ward Avenue and Caledonia Road, died early Wednesday, from a suspected heart attack.

Reports are that the sprightly 54-year-old businessman, who is chairman of Locker Room Sports, fell ill suddenly at his home in Mandeville a few days ago and even drove himself to the privately-owned Hargreaves Hospital to seek attention.

His condition worsened dramatically and he was later transferred to the Tony Thwaites wing of the University Hospital of the West Indies.

His former business partner at Locker Room Sports, managing director David Shirley, was clearly shaken and called Chin a "mentor".

"He was a mentor on how to do things the right way and how to be positive. Both my brother (Stephen) and myself, when we were young and in business and needed a mentor to be there with us and guide us in the right way, in integrity, even though our father taught us that, he was that person," said Shirley.

"He was older than us by 15 years, but he guided us and basically showed us the right way and our business grew when he joined us. When he came on board the business just began to grow because of his attitude and him always being positive, even when we were down or were having second thoughts about certain things," he further explained.

"Every single person that I've told that he has died just can't believe it, he was such a nice guy.

"Another key thing about him is Howie always believes in giving back. He also runs a hardware business, Brumalia House in Mandeville and if it is even a tin of paint he has to give to somebody he always gives back," Shirley reminisced.

Shirley also noted his intentions to do smoething in Chin's honour.

Big shock

"I'm also talking to several people who we do business with and we're looking to sponsor something with a Howie Chin Award," he pointed out.

The news has also come as a big shock to the Manchester community at large and particularly members of the football fraternity.

Chin, currently sponsors the Manchester Knock-out Cup, which is at its semi-final stage. He was expected to attend the two semi-finals, which we held on Tuesday and Wednesday at Brooks Park.

President of the Manchester FA, Dalton Wint, says he is yet to come to terms with the news of Chin's sudden passing.

"I still cannot believe, as I was there (at Mandeville Locker Room Sports branch) to pick up a few balls for the semi-finals and to discuss the date of the finals," Wint explained.

"The news is a shock, as the the feeling I got when I asked the workers about him was that it was not going to be anything serious."

He has already intimated the FA plans to do something in his honour.

"Trust me, we have to do something special for him as he was a key man to check when we had any plans."

Brumalia House also sponsored the parish division one (now Major League) going back to the days of the early 1990s.

In 2009, in tandem with his latest investment Locker Room Sports, Chin provided sponsorship for the inaugural South Central Confed Under-20 championship.

His involvement went beyond sponsorship as he has for the last 10 years, served on the Manchester FA board, as committee member and director. A stickler for discipline and its pursuit, he was also integral in sponsoring a special function the FA held in May to honour six students who had earned places on various national teams.