A tale of two Jeans

Another Jean, that is Bharat-Springer, who also lives in Canada was born in Jamaica and worked in Trinidad before migrating to Canada.

Reid-Springer 60, whose husband was Arden and a mother of two, was killed on New Year’s Day by a single bullet that struck her in the face. She was pronounced dead at Sunnybrook hospital, becoming the city’s first homicide victim of 2007.

Reid-Springer was also one of three sisters of a popular Clifford Street, Belmont family and a former teacher in Trinidad, who was trained at Mausica.

Up to her passing she was involved in the planning of next month’s reunion of her professional peers, scheduled for Tobago. Several teachers who were at Training College with her have maintained a steady exchange of tributes and expressions of shock via the Internet on her death.

A memorial service in her honour was recently held at the Belmont Gospel Hall on Erthig Road. There, her legacy of love and faith in action was remembered.

Dr Jean Bharat-Springer on the other hand, was born in Jamaica. She completed a double honours degree in Mathematics and Physics at the University of the West Indies, after which she too began her teaching career in Trinidad, teaching first at Naparima College and Point Fortin College. She as well migrated to Canada, settling in Vancouver.

Bharat-Springer received the 2006 recipient of the Mentor of the Millennium Award in Alberta, Canada, an award that was created by the Alberta Women’s Science Network to recognise a significant contribution to mentoring women of all ages. Dr Springer’s story includes a long list of achievements, such as a passion for mathematics, love of learning and life, optimism and hope for the future, and ability to persevere in the face of the greatest challenges.

Today, while Bharat-Springer is alive and well in Canada, Reid-Springer is unfortunately no longer with us.