UTech Foundation - Tributes

TRIBUTE Tribute from the Jamaica Institute of Engineers

Dr. Alfred Sangster, former principal of UTech, Ja. and C.A.S.T., was a visionary leader and a cornerstone of Jamaica’s engineering community. He passed away on January 27, 2025. To the local engineering fraternity, Dr. Sangster was more than an educator; he was a mentor and a guiding force. From the 1970s through the 1990s, his leadership shaped the careers of countless prominent engineers who studied at C.A.S.T. and UTech, Ja. His foresight and dedication were instrumental in the growth and development of the Engineering faculty, renowned for producing the region’s finest technicians and engineers. A C.A.S.T. diploma was widely recognized as a strong foundation, with graduates excelling in further studies – a testament to the quality Dr. Sangster was a legend in his time at The College of Arts, Science and Technology, Jamaica. I first met Dr. Alfred Sangster in September 1970 as a first year student in the Construction Department. A man with a calm and peaceful demeanor. He was encouraging in his approach...that all students can achieve their goal that of obtaining their “Dip” through consistent work and in attending classes. Personally, I found Dr. Sangster an affable person with a personality that even an infant would enjoy being with. I still remember him bowling off the inter department cricket competition in1971, with players such as Uton Dowe, who was representing Jamaica and the West Indies.

of education Dr. Sangster championed. Many of Jamaica’s leading engineers owe their success to Dr. Sangster’s unwavering commitment to excellence and his transformative impact. His legacy is etched in the achievements of those he inspired and the enduring strength of the engineering profession in Jamaica. On behalf of the Jamaica Institution of Engineers, we extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Sangster’s family, friends, and colleagues. May his life and contributions continue to be celebrated, inspiring future generations and making a lasting impact on our nation. Rest in peace, Dr. Alfred Sangster; your work and vision will never be forgotten. Those representing Jamaica were Sam Morgan, Roy McCatty, Courtney Daley and Lyndel Wright. Dr. Sangster himself was an outstanding sportsman at the institutions he attended with much success. So he understood the importance of having student athletes at C.A.S.T./ UTech, Ja. I express my condolences to his family, relatives, friends and graduates of this outstanding educational institution C.A.S.T./ UTech, Ja., for which he was the visionary, to position UTech, Ja., in particular, to be a degree granting institution. May his soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon him. It is said, Old cricketers never die. They just get run out.

TRIBUTE Tribute from Lyndel Wright (1970 - 1973)

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