Sir Gerald Cash (© Tribune media)
It is with great sorrow that the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations expresses its sorrow at the passing of a great Bahamian son, former Governor General Sir Gerald Cash. Sir Gerald was among those distinguished gentlemen who met at the law chambers of the Honourable Alfred Francis Adderley on May 6th of 1952 to form the Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association. The only one remaining is the former Governor General Sir Orville Turnquest.
After a long illness Sir Gerald died on Monday, January 6th, having suffered a stroke on New Year’s Day. He will be buried in a state funeral on Wednesday, January 15th.
A distinguished attorney, Sir Gerald had the responsibility of drafting the initial constitution of the BAAA that was forwarded for ratification to the International Amateur Athletic Federation in London. Sir Gerald was also instrumental in forming the Bahamas Olympic Association.
An avid sportsman himself, Sir Gerald was quite active in the sporting arena for many years. He was the Chef de Mission for numerous Bahamian teams including the Central American Games in Kingston in 1962 and the Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968. For his contribution to the Olympic movement Sir Gerald was presented in 1982 with the Silver Medal of the Olympic Order by the former president of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranch.
Sir Gerald, elected to the House of Assembly in 1949 was a statesman and a gentleman. In 1979 he was the second Bahamian Governor General, retiring from this lofty post in 1988. He had a passion for life. It was with these talents that he made such a significant contribution to Bahamian and international sports.
Sir Gerald continued to support sports in the Bahamas and attended the 50th Anniversary of the Bahamas Olympic Association in June of 2002. He was honoured at the recent Golden Jubilee Celebration Banquet the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations but was too ill to attend.
Sir Gerald was president of the East Nassau Rotary Club and was honoured by Rotary International with a Paul Harris Fellowship.
A Primary school in Nassau was named in his honour.
His contributions to the social fabric of the Bahamas will not be forgotten. The Bahamas Association of Athletics Associations joins hands with other organizations and individuals in the Bahamas and abroad in wishing Sir Gerald’s family our heartfelt sympathy. He will be sadly missed.
Alpheus Finlayson for the IAAF