Boxing, horse racing officials remember Maxie Assee

In this February 27, 2018 file photo,  former Mayor of Arima Lisa Morris-Julien presents long-serving Arima Race Club employee Maxie Assee, 2nd from right, with an award during the 2018 Jetsam Awards ceremony, at the Queen's Park Oval, St Clair. - (file photo)
In this February 27, 2018 file photo, former Mayor of Arima Lisa Morris-Julien presents long-serving Arima Race Club employee Maxie Assee, 2nd from right, with an award during the 2018 Jetsam Awards ceremony, at the Queen's Park Oval, St Clair. - (file photo)

THE local boxing and horse racing fraternity remembered Maxie Assee as a committed person who was always willing to share his wealth of knowledge.

Assee, who was popular in Arima for riding his bicycle, died last Thursday. He was 94.

President of the TT Amateur Boxing Association Cecil Forde said, “From the time I came into boxing the name Maxie Assee was always there with us. He was a national amateur coach.”

Forde, who said Assee travelled to Brazil in his youngers days to complete a boxing course was “highly qualified as a boxing coach.”

Forde said Assee was one of the founders of the Arima Boxing Gym and was instrumental in producing talented boxers.

Forde said Assee in his later years became the official timekeeper for the TT Boxing Board of Control.

“He did everything in Arima to help boxing. He was always there and even up to recently he was still around and still coming with his bell and still timing.”

Forde added, “It is very sad and I want to say condolences from the boxing association to his family and everybody.”

Assee was always willing to share his knowledge.

“Always ready to give advice…always coming to the camps and advising the young boxers,” Forde said.

Molly Boxill, a stalwart in local boxing, said, “I cried when I heard he died because he was my friend. He was well-loved in boxing.”

Boxill, who won the Hummingbird Medal Silver in 2005, said Assee was instrumental in guiding the career of former top TT boxer Claude Noel.

Boxill, a former boxing judge, reflected on the love Assee had for TT culture as he would always participate in Jouvert.

Assee worked at the Arima Race Club since the 1950s and is recognised at the club as its longest-serving employee.

President of the Arima Race Club (ARC) Robert Bernard said, “I know he was a regular at the races…he was very affable. He did not say much but (he was) a very pleasant man. We were all quite amazed that the amount he used to do at his age.”

Bernard, who extended condolences to Assee’s family, said the ARC plans to honour Assee at the next horse racing card at Santa Rosa Park in Arima, on Saturday. The fourth race at 3.30 pm in the seven-race card will be dedicated to Assee.

The funeral for Assee will be held at the Santa Rosa RC Church from 10 am, on Wednesday.

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"Boxing, horse racing officials remember Maxie Assee"

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