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THE WEEKLY GLEANER | DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 19, 2021 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 37 THE W EKLY G EAN R | DECEMB R 13, 2021 - JANUARY 12, 202 S YDNEY ENGEL, one of New York’s foremost pioneers of real estate development, died on Saturday, November 27, 2021, at his Hewlett Harbor home. He was 98. Best known on Long Island as one of the founders of the powerhouse devel- oper Engel Burman Group, Engel came from very humble beginnings. Born in Brooklyn in 1923, he grew up in a household where times were so hard that he and his brother, Arthur, had to take turns wearing their one good pair of shoes. After a stint as an Army Air Force re- cruit, Engel returned to Brooklyn and started an insulation company named for his father Louis. His business ex- panded to include roofing, siding and oil burner conversions, and employed a staff of 15 salesmen who worked out of Engel’s basement apartment. As his business evolved, promi- nent New York families, such as the Rockefellers and Mellons, engaged Engel’s company as a general con- tractor because he delivered what he promised. Engel was oftenmade a part- ner in development projects under his construction supervision. Over the next 50 years, Engel and his partner Sol Henkind developed nursing homes, office buildings and thousands of rental units throughout the NewYork metropolitan area. By 1997, at the age of 74, Engel formed a new company, with Jan Burman and Steven Krieger as partners. Since then, the firm, known as Engel Burman, with additional partners David Burman, Scott Burman, Michael Weiss and Jon Weiss, ‘has built an expansive portfolio, including residential, com- mercial, senior living, healthcare, and other developments throughout the Eastern Seaboard. Besides his prolific development achievements, Engel was also a philanthropist to several non-profits. As a director, former treasurer and vice-president of the American Friends of Jamaica, Inc (AFJ), his contribution to Jamaica over the years was enor- mous. He founded and oversaw the construction of MoBay Hope Health Centre in Montego Bay, where he also maintained a residence. MoBay Hope Health Centre was the first hospital in western Jamaica to offer mammo- gram services. He was also a consist- ent supporter of the Cornwall Regional Hospital, among other projects, to help improve the level of health services in western Jamaica. Engel had a genuine affection for Jamaica and visited numerous times per year with his family. He served on the board of the AFJ for three decades. Engel also served as a board mem- ber of ADL and Hadassah, as well as a board member of Temple Israel in Lawrence and Franklin General Hospital in Valley Stream, New York, now called Long Island Jewish Valley Stream. Engel was predeceased by his wife of 70 years Sylvia Engel, who also served on the board of the AFJ. He was a faithful and true friend of Jamaica. His good works and his legacy will be with us for a long time. (Contributed by David Winzelberg, Long Island Business News ) Sydney Engel hailed as ‘ true friend of Jamaica’ Sydney Engel CONTRIBUTED TRIBUTE Yasmine Peru// Senior Gleaner Writer THE PASSING of Robbie Shakespeare, one half of Jamaica’s internation- ally famous Riddim Twins, Sly and Robbie, has left the music industry in a sombre mood. The 68-year-old legendary bass player had been ail- ing from kidney-related complica- tions, including a rejected organ. He died on Wednesday, December 8 in Florida, where he had been living for a few years. Leading the tributes to the Grammy award-winning Shakespeare was Minister of Culture, Gender Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange. “I am in shock and sorrow after just receiving the news that my friend and brother, the legendary bassist Robbie Shakespeare has died. Robbie and Sly Dunbar, the drummer, as Sly and Robbie, have been among Jamaica’s greatest musicians. This fantastic team took bass playing and drumming to the highest level as they made music for themselves as a group and for many other artistes locally and internation- ally. Robbie’s loss will be severely felt by the industry at home and abroad. He will be sorely missed. My condolences to those he leaves behind. Love you, Robbie,”Grange said in a press release. For Jackie Jackson, an awesome bass player and one of those bassists who Shakespeare said had inspired him, Tuesday was “a very sad day”. He described Robbie Shakespeare as “the consummate bass player” and got all excited as he reminisced on the“wick- edest bass line”he had ever heard him play. “Yuh ever listen to the bassline in Baltimore by the Tamlins?” he asked, without waiting for an answer. “When I heard that for the first time, I seh ‘Rhatid, Robbie a play!’ The bass sid- dung. It made a statement. It lifted the song. Is like the bass alone have the song on its shoulders,” Jackson enthused. He noted that he was happy to have been an inspiration for Shakespeare and equally glad to have known him. “Condolences to Robbie’s family and, of course, to Sly. When the Lord calls, you have to be ready. But that Baltimore bass line … ,” he added. One of reggae music’s most famous keyboardists, Robbie Lyn, worked closely with the duo Sly and Robbie for many years, and he was among those who were aware of the extent of Shakespeare’s illness. MEDICAL ISSUES “For the last few years, Robbie lived in Florida and only came to Jamaica to work on a project and would leave after. The last time I spoke to him was December last year, and he was on the dialysis machine, and as expected, didn’t sound too good. I know that he has been in and out of [the] hospital and was under medical supervision. He was diabetic and treated himself with insulin for years,”Lyn told The Gleaner . He related that just before COVID, Shakespeare had to bow out of a series of concerts dubbed Sly and Robbie featuring Mykal Rose. “They still used the name, but Robbie didn’t play. He had been going through it. He had a rejected organ earlier this year, and that just accelerated things. Sly didn’t speak about Robbie’s illness at all. When anybody ask about Robbie, Sly would answer in four words. I heard about his passing when I got the call from Dean [Fraser], who is in Florida. Sly and Robbie accomplished so much and are in demand internationally. This is a great loss,” Lyn said. Dean Fraser, who was in the studio with reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, told The Gleaner that it was “a rough day”. “This is the end of a real chapter in our music. We will never have an- other Sly and Robbie. He was one of the greatest natural musicians I have ever known. The talent and musician- ship that Robbie loaned to [the] reg- gae music business is beyondmeasure. Robbie was a true legend,” the saxo- phonist extraordinaire declared. Ska, rocksteady, reggae, and soul musician and multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Cliff also stopped his studio time to pay tribute to Robbie Shakespeare. “Robbie undoubtedly made a huge impact on the music, and as a duet, Sly and Robbie made a huge contri- bution. His passing is a big loss, but he has done his work, and he did it to the max. We will miss him emotionally, but his soul is gone to a higher place, and we will send him on with love. Condolences to his family,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee said. yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com Grange, Jimmy Cliff pay tribute to Robbie Shakespeare ‘Sly (left) and Robbie accomplished so much and are in demand internationally,’ said Robbie Lyn, one of reggae music’s most famous keyboardists. FILE