People around St Ann are still coming to terms with the death of Roosevelt Crooks, well known ambulance service operator and chiropractor.
Mr Crooks who was a strong advocate for the small scale and informal operators in the tourism industry died last week Wednesday. Mr Crooks was also a talented musician, and sang and played the piano at several major functions in St Ann and parts of the North Coast
He was often referred to as Doctor Crooks and Professor Crooks.
His community work is being spoken about now. Well known Ocho Rios craft trader Dennis Gordon, better known as ‘Bully Cat’ lauded Mr Crooks. “He did a lot for people in St Ann and especially craft traders. He was the one who helped get us [craft traders] on the port, said Gordon who is also marketing manager for the Ocho Rios Craft Market Association.
In recent years Mr Crooks had several mishaps and in the last few months had become very ill and needed dialysis three times a week. He also suffered multiple bone fractures that forced him to use a wheel chair
For more than 20 years, Roosevelt Crooks operated a critical care ambulance service that was a regular fixture at large events and catered to people especially in St Ann and St Mary. Often he provided service to people unable to pay him.
In his last days he had difficulties with the business and his own personal finances. Only a week before his death, radio station IRIE FM publicly asked people to donate to his care.
C Hall
In this 2015 picture, Roosevelt Crooks (left) is seen in a conversation with Oral Heaven (centre) and Ransford Davidson both of whom were prominent in the St Ann business community at the time.
