The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

On Saturday - the day before Palm Sunday - Dr. Judson Frazier Eneas, passed from time to eternity. The media reports that he is the first Bahamian physician to succumb to COVID19. I agree with the quote that The Nassau Guardian attributes to his colleague, Dr. Charles Diggis, “the ultimate sacrifice – doctors on the frontline – patient above self.”

Judson is the second child and second son of Dr. Cleveland Eneas and Mrs. Muriel Eneas. Dr. and Mrs. Eneas were nation builders. Both imbued in their children the spirit of public service.

Judson was well known and held in high esteem among his colleagues internationally and nationally. He was educated and worked at top institutions in the United States and had a very successful practice in California before he returned home to make his contributions to The Bahamas. Judson did not rest on his professional laurels in The Bahamas. He contributed significantly to the development of the medical profession, especially in internal medicine and nephrology, being Board Certified in each. His quest for excellence was such that he frequently attended and spoke at international conferences. The knowledge and skills obtained from keeping abreast of and contributing to international developments, were shared with his colleagues and patients in The Bahamas. His outstanding accomplishments in the medical arena speak to his intellect, the love of his profession, the love of learning and his spirit of excellence.

This leads me to the Judson that I’ve known for almost 60 years. Judson was always soft spoken, scholarly, a leader and peacemaker, loyal friend and a family man. Whenever and wherever I saw Judson, he was well groomed – whether at work, at a party or at the Eneas’ cabana at Adelaide Beach. Mrs. Eneas always told us that we pay the consequences of our actions. This may have been what led Judson and his wife (I think they were married for about 50 years) Marcheta to establish The Gentlemen’s Club, to lead young men to good consequences. Hundreds of young men would have been mentored by Judson and Marcheta and their team. They were taught, especially by example, what it means to be a “gentleman”, good citizen and leader. Thank you, Judson, and Marcheta for pouring your time, talent and treasure into so many young men, and by extension, their families, thereby making The Bahamas a better place.

The Links, Incorporated (“Links”) is well known in The Bahamas. I recall Judson proudly supporting Marcheta as she and others worked to have The Nassau Chapter of Links to be chartered as the first international chapter of Links.

Judson loved family and friends, amongst whom he could relax and let his hair down. He loved his Omega Psi Phi fraternity brothers, like family, and they loved him. Such was his professional and social reach that in cities in Europe and across America, when I mentioned that I am from The Bahamas, people have asked me whether I knew Judson and Marcheta Eneas.

Those who remember Dr. and Mrs. Eneas (affectionately called Doc and Finnie) will recall that whenever you saw one, you saw the other. The same applied to Judson and Marcheta (the younger Dr. and Mrs. Eneas). Whenever you saw one, you saw the other. Continuing their parents’ spirit of excellence, their three children are making important contributions to society in Maryland, California and The Bahamas.

Judson contributed to and built institutions. He meaningfully and impactfully touched people, our most significant resource.

Let us uphold Marcheta, his children and the entire Eneas family in prayers at this challenging time, made even more difficult because of COVID19 protocols.

May he rest in peace.

ALLYSON MAYNARD-GIBSON

Nassau,

April 5, 2020