Dietrich family's proud moment

November 6 was special for the Dietrich family, as they celebrated with close relatives and friends the achievement of Clinton Jr, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in medicine and surgery from the University of the West Indies, Mona.

The son of the late Clinton Dietrich Sr, a one-time Jamaica Labour Party councillor, was toasted for his success in spite of the tragic loss of his dad in 2007. The celebration took the form of a post-graduation ceremony luncheon held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel.

Leading the toasts was Finance Minister Audley Shaw, a close friend of the family. He paid tribute to the late Clinton Dietrich Sr for his sterling contribution to politics and strategic plans in implementing the greenhouse and tissue-culture technology project in Manchester, where he had served as a director of the board of the Christiana Potato Growers Association.

Doreen Dietrich, hostess and mother of the proud graduate, welcomed the group of about 60 persons, including relatives from as far as Michigan and Texas in the United States of America. Retired Archdeacon Egbert Robertson blessed the formalities and lunch.

Robertson described the senior Dietrich as an organised leader who had a passion for achieving results and was a caring and supportive father. He commended Clinton Jr for his remarkable achievement, strength and determination in passing all his examinations and completing his studies.

Kaydeen Dietrich Garcon, a premedical student at the University of Miami, was lauded for mentoring her 'baby' brother on the right career path.

Fellow graduate and study partner Dr Ian Daniels had high praise for his colleague for motivating their study group to complete their assignments in a timely manner so that all were able to graduate at the same time.

Tremendous support

Dr Dietrich's mother, uncle Gladstone King; grandmother Esther King; grandaunt Alice Plummer; Darren Andrews, a student in the faculty of law at the UWI; Wyvolyn Gager, former editor-in-chief of The Gleaner, and other members of the Westwood High School Past Student Association also toasted the graduate.

In his response, the graduate said he was overwhelmed by the tremendous support he had received from family, friends and colleagues in his quest to achieve the milestone. He expressed fascination with the gift from his mother, a photo collage of himself from birth to adulthood.

Joining in the celebration were Dr Ray Fraser, senior medical officer and laparoscopic surgeon; attorneys-at-law Hugh and Eileen Salmon; Andrea C. Whyte, Wyvolyn Gager, Bridgette Wilks, Dawn Stephenson, Sadie Muirhead, Merl Robertson, Dr Marie Smith; Marie Bell Smith from Texas; Valrie Gordon, Winston and Kay Smith; and Mr and Mrs Leary Miller.