The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LIVINGSTONE Bostwick, who has been instrumental in organising a number of local and international meets for the Bahamas as the long-time secretary general of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, passed away at Broward Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday morning.

Bostwick, who suffered from complications due to his illness, was 71.

BAAA president Mike Sands said Bostwick had a vital role to play in the BAAA and he carried it out to perfection.

“His last assignment was with the National High School segment of the World Relays,” Sands said. “He was also instrumental in organising the CAC Championships in the Bahamas when we first introduced prize money to the competition. He organised that, but I don’t know what happened since.

“But from the time he joined the BAAA, he has made a valuable contribution to the sport and he will be sadly missed because he was a sitting member of the BAAA Council up to his demise. I had a chance to speak to his wife and daughter before I left for Beijing to express our condolences. He will be sadly missed by us all.”

Although he was known for his exploits in athletics, Bostick was also a great softball, cricket and soccer [player. He was a teacher by profession, who began his athletic administration as the secretary of the Ambassadors Sporting Club. He then became the secretary of the BAAA, serving from 1968-1997 under the presidency of Rev Enoch Backford, Winston ‘Gus’ Cooper, his longtime friend Dr Bernard Nottage and Alpheus ‘Hawk’ Finlayson.

Bostwick was also the assistant secretary of the Bahamas Association Association, as it was known. He served under the presidency of Sir Arlington Butler and assisted secretary general Dr Larry Davis up until he made his departure in 2008.

In 1999, Bostwick received an IAAF Veteran’s Pin at the the IAAF Congress in Seville, Spain. In 2008, he was among the first class of Bahamians inducted into the Central American and Caribbean Athletic Confederation’s Hall of Fame, along with Dr Nottage, Frank Rutherford, Troy Kemp and Pauline Davis-Thompson.

Then in 2013, Bostwick was one of 21 persons inducted into the National Sports Hall of Fame by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. The event was held on Friday, November 22 at Government House during Sports Heritage Week.

The other inductees were Sir Arlington Butler, Harold Munnings, Dr Norman Gay, Kendal Nottage, Rev. Enoch Backford, Basil Neymour, Phil Smith, Alpheus ‘Hawk’ Finlayson, Roscow Davies, Maryann Higgs, Leroy Mitchell, Dr Gail North, Oswald Moore, Garth Rolle, Earl ‘Sonny Jiggy’ Haven, J. Barrie Farrington, Osbourne ‘Goose’ Lockhart, Captain Hezron Moxey, Dr Linda Moxey-Brown and Leroy Archer.

His oldest daughter Charmaine said she and her siblings are all taking it hard because this was supposed to be the time that they enjoy their six-week trip to Florida.

“I’m heart broken because we had everything planned out,” said Charmaine, better known as ‘Gina.’ “We had our yogurt day for Thursday night. He loved I Hop. It was a part of his routine. Once he got picked up from the airport, he had to stop at Ihop, then we go to McDonald’s later in the day and in the night, he had to go to Popeye.

“This trip, however, was a little different because he was hospitalised. But he called all of his children on Thursday night and he left everybody with some fond memories. It was like Daddy knew that he was going. He told us how he travelled all over the place with the BAAA. I think he knew it was time. It’s a legecy he left for us and I just thank him for everything.”

His is survived by his wife, Branhilda and in addition to Gina, his other children Bernard Jr, Barry, Tamara (Tammy), Brendon, Kijana and Alicia. His wife was Brenhilda.

A memorial service is set for 5:30pm Saturday at the James P Boyd Funeral Home, 2324 NW 6th Street, 33311.

His body will then be flown home for his last rites that is tentatively set for Saturday, September 5 at St Agnes. The time is still undecided.