Former national table tennis player and coach Clement Harper passed away at the Beth Israel Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America last Monday after suffering a cardiac arrest.
He was 85 year-old.
A number of former national table tennis players in the diaspora have reacted to the news of Harper’s death.
to former national player Mike Clarke, the late Harper was a “remarkable individual, always accommodating. He opened his bottom house for practice for those of us who were inspired to excel at the game of table tennis. Players of my era who participated included, Mike Baptiste, Garth Isaacs, Bruce Edwards, Maurice Moore, Gordon Stephens, Benfield Munroe, Llewie Armstrong and Monty Clarke to name a few,” Clarke wrote.
“Memories of that time period will never be forgotten, on behalf of my family, I would like to extend heartfelt condolences to the family and may his soul Rest in Peace,” he added.
Former Caribbean junior boys champion now a Professor of English in the USA Christopher Chung-Wee: “Sad to hear. I well remember Clement and the coaching sessions he conducted for the juniors, all on his own time.
My condolences to his family.”
Horace Benjamin, who reached the finals of the Caribbean boys singles championships losing to Chung Wee said: “Please share my expression of sorrow with the family of one whom I have always respected highly, particularly because of his dignity and fair-mindedness; we need more like Mr. Harps, but instead we continue to lose his kind.”
Mark Davidson brother of the Davidson sisters carol and Hodiah remembers Harper advising the players to…”Fight for the lead, when you get the lead keep the lead.”
Although Harper was born in Berbice but spent a great deal of his adult life in Georgetown. Married to Mignan Kirton, Harper worked as a Manager at Swan Laundry & Dry Cleaners, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park.
Harper, who migrated to the USA in 1982, is credited with assisting the development of such former TT greats as Mike Baptiste, Horace Benjamin, Garth Isaacs, Bruce Edwards, Louis Armstrong, Mike Christophe, Denise Osman, Doreen Chow-Wah, Barbara DeAbreau and others. Harper is set to be buried on Wednesday with funeral service being held at the New Hope Family Worship Centre at Livonia Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 15:00hrs to 18:00hrs on Tuesday. The burial will take place at the Pinelawn Memorial Park, Farmingdale, New York.
