Hundreds pay tribute to ex-EBC chairman

Among the mourners were former president Sir Ellis Clarke, Zalayhar Hassanali, wife of former president Noor Hassanali, Professor Courtenay Bartholomew, Clive Pantin, the chairman of the Foundation for the Enhancement and Enrichment of Life (FEEL) and attorney-at-law Anthony Smart.

Wilson, fondly known as “Ozzie” or “OJ”, was remembered as a man who was dedicated to family and friends and able to relate to persons from all walks of life. He was also remembered for his strong faith and spirituality.

“Religion formed the core of Ozzie’s life. It is a little known fact that before he was married, OJ spent a year at Mount Saint Benedict contemplating joining the priesthood,” said son Paul who delivered the eulogy, along with brother Fulton and sister Maria.

“His religious fervour manifested itself in the fact that he attended daily Mass. He was also a member of the St Vincent De Paul Society and was one of the first members of Opus Dei, joining the organisation in 1978,” said Wilson’s son. Maria fondly remembered her father as man who had developed a strict routine over the years, “Daddy was a man of many idiosyncrasies. He kept strict routines and... even we, his kids could predict with 100 percent accuracy how his day would unfold. If we made the mistake of calling him during the seven o’clock news, we would be brushed off with a mere two-minute conversation.”

Father Emmanuel Pierre, a close friend of the family and one of three priests celebrating the funeral Mass, summed up Wilson’s last words to his family in the form of a quote from 1 Kings, Chapter 2, Versus 1-3: “As David’s life drew to its close, he charged his son Solomon saying, ‘I go the way of all the Earth. Take courage and be a man.”’

Pierre said these words were in essence, Wilson’s final message for his children.

“David had no problem in reconciling himself to the fact that he was still human and held no bitterness. In very humble and gracious spirit, he said, ‘I am going the way of all mankind.’ OJ, the Christian father has gone the same way and with the same spirit. He did it with quiet acceptance,” Pierre said.

Pierre said Wilson had been a gift from God. “The only fitting memorial to Ozzie is to be a living embodiment of his message. If Ozzie is the gift, just imagine who the gift giver is,” noted Pierre.