I first knew Gregory Trujillo at Rosary Boys’ RC School. Gregory and Brian attended Rosary Boys’ RC School and his sisters attended St Roses Girls’ Intermediate. At Rosary Boys’ Gregory was in my opinion and recollection a smart person. Academically he was always in the top 10. Gregory was just as successful on the field of sport at Rosary as he was at Belmont Intermediate where he blossomed into one of the finest players/sportsmen our school has produced. I have always thought of Gregory as a gifted person with the talent to run, skip, and jump, play football and cricket. In my mind’s eyes he was a super hero of sorts. This against the background of my own inability to be as capable of matching my friend stride for stride. We left Rosary Boys’ together and journeyed to Belmont Intermediate, where we sat in the same bench at Form One and again in Form Two and then for some strange, unexplained reason, I was skipped to Form Four and the closeness of the relationship diminished, but we remained great friends. I continued to look on and write my pieces for the notice board from the editor as Gregory Trujillo blazed a trail for himself as a super sports personality within the Belmont family. This was to climax when we got past our long list of contenders to move into the Inter Col Championships in 1968.
At the heart of all of this was our Gregory Trujillo and so on that memorable evening in 1969 when we clenched the Inter Col title, Gregory was there and as always, demonstrated a disciplined approach to winning. In my mind, I could still see him without much fanfare, but with methodical discipline assisting his captain Gordon Husbands, in keeping our team together, playing always for the team and never for himself. He was in my view the ultimate team player. His conversion rate was high and to his contribution to our team, Kelvin “Skip” Lawrence said: “Gregory never missed; he was a clinical marksman, often jumping the height of players twice his height.” And so, he partnered with Wayne Lewis and Ron La Forest upfront in 1969 to lift the Inter Col trophy. A year earlier. Gregory was on the 1968 Colleges League Team partnering with Alvin Henderson, with support coming from Calbert Brooks and Leo Brewster for the Inter League Haywood Shield. This in itself was quite an achievement.
Following his successes at College’s League he played for Queen’s Park Cricket Club with his skipper of 1969 Gordon Husbands and George Romano. He also had a stint at Colts and Falcons. But who really was this chap: Gregory Trujillo? Gregory Trujillo was born on February 21, 1951 to his parents Amoy and Gerald Trujillo. He was the third child in a family of seven children—four boys and three girls. He was married to Joanne Farrell on June 30, 1974 and from this relationship came two (2) children—Dario and Rosario. It is instructive, Gregory passed away on June 30, 2011—precisely thirty-seven years to date, following his marriage. Gregory often spoke of his offsprings with the pride and joy of any loving and caring father. I recall the magic of the moment when he first introduced me to his eldest—Dario. I never forgot the smile or the expression of contentment of our friend, who was super proud of his son Dario. He was a sports journalist respected and loved within the profession and he came to the profession of sports journalism more qualified than many. Gregory knew sport, understood sport and could write and speak on any sporting discipline with the same degree of professionalism.
He knew sport, because he was himself an excellent sportsman. Long before golf became the sport of the “nouveau riche” Gregory could follow a tournament and report the details with the same ease he reported on the more naturally common games of football and cricket. I remember Gregory and I met up at Mt Irving Golf Club too many years ago to recall the date, and he tried his best to get me to understand the game. We parted and I still did not come to grips with the rudiments of the game of the rich and wealthy. As the tournament progressed I read the reports during the days that followed under the byline of Gregory Trujillo. Despite his sporting prowess I believe Gregory brought to our school, our teams and our lives a quiet, happy spirit that always seemed to permeate the spaces he shared with others. I could recall many scuffles at school—some of them I might have started, some the other Gregory, that is, Rousseau might have started; but I could never recall Gregory being engaged in conflict. He always brought a richness of spirit to the game, to the occasion and the moment. He had his own unique strength, which he shared with all who interacted with him. But Gregory was only a human beings and like all humans, had some weaknesses which greatly affected him; but to his eternal credit he conquered and for this we were all very happy; but more importantly he earned for himself renewed respect from many.
Gregory for nearly three years battled pancreatic cancer and did so against all odds. Kelvin “Skip” Laurence testifies he never disconnected from God’s love and leadership: “He demonstrated that nothing and nothing done can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus.” He truly took the step of faith in repentance and must have pleased the Father enroute to God’s favour. Despite all his trials Kelvin, who I believe, is truly the keeper of our several generations at Belmont and Ministers in his own special way, further testifies that “Gregory knew God could not bless that which was unclean, so he shook off all unrighteousness.” Skip continues: “At arguably the ‘lowest point’ of his life’s journey, he established the word, will and purpose of God in nearly every action.” During the last five years I spoke to Gregory often. Sometimes he would drop in on me, but there were times we just spoke on the phone.”
As a believer myself, I came to appreciate our conversations with a deeper sense of understanding of the changes my friend had gone through during his life. Towards the end, he spoke of a contentment and understanding of life in a manifestation I have come to recognise that has had special meaning. I truly believe Gregory was at peace with his family, his friends and had made peace with our ultimate Father. On occasions he would say to me: “Louis I know God has kept me alive for a reason; I should have been long gone.”
He kept his faith to the end and I am satisfied he surrendered to the greatest of all architects in peace and fulfilment I am advised by his daughter Rosario that his last sentence was: “I just want to be free.” And so on June 30, 2011, the day of his youngest brother’s birthday and 37 years to date of his marriage, he was freed from all his pain and suffering and was indeed free. I did not know Gregory was called “Spanish,” but Rosario says everyone called him Spanish. She makes the point that “He was a good man, always ready to give advice and offer information about his past and present life.” Gregory was very active as a teacher and lecturer to Narcotics Anonymous classes. So concerned had Gregory become, he studied for and was certified in Narcotics and Drug Abuse at UWI. Our friend and brother is credited with having helped dozens of addicts recover and return to normal happy lives. We who knew him will undoubtedly miss him, as he was a special person with an equally special spirit. How we use this experience with Gregory to enrich the lives of others is our challenge as we say fond farewell my brother. Until we meet again—play to your hearts delight and continue being the marksman so aptly described by Kelvin.
Team TTO
Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee