Dr Regis made students champions

University lecturer Dr Louis Regis knew how to turn his students into champions.

"It was evident during his teaching days at Pleasantville Senior Comprehensive where he uplifted the lives of students and fellow teachers. Uncle Louis worked with the basketball team and made them champions. He worked with the drama team and made them champions," his nephew Shammah Quinton said yesterday.

Quinton was delivering the eulogy yesterday at the funeral service Regis, 66, at Gasparillo Ministry Centre, Bonne Aventure Main Road, Gasparillo. Regis was the husband of Ferne Louanne Regis and the father of Kosi and Kaya.

Regis, who lectured at the Department of Literary, Cultural and Communication Studies at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, died on Tuesday at San Fernando General Hospital. He was also a researcher and author. Regis’ research interests included calypso, West Indian literature and cultural history.

Quinton shared fond moments of Regis, the first of seven children who grew up at Bel Vue Street, Ste Madeleine. He said Regis’s wife often said that before she fell in love with his looks, she fell in love with his mind, and as a child during Christmas when his siblings would sit down and open their gifts, Regis preferred to sit down and read.

"His love for reading was only second for his love and admiration for his family and friends," said Quinton.

Regis’ children stood next to Quinton during the eulogy.

With a smile, Kosi said his father was always proud of his mother’s ability to manage.

"Dad was always amazed by her ability to take control of a situation though, I admit, he did not always show it and he did not comply at first. In the Regis’ household, there exists an eleventh commandment, thou shall always listen to Mummy Louanne," he said.