The UWI, Mona Pays Tribute to Late Business Icon and Benefactor, the Hon Dennis Lalor

The UWI, Mona, joins Jamaica and the wider Caribbean in mourning the passing of Mr Dennis Lalor, OJ.  The iconic business leader and philanthropist, who founded the Insurance Company of the West Indies (ICWI) Group Limited and served as chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) for several decades, passed away last Wednesday at the age of 91 after a period of illness.

In paying tribute to Mr Lalor, the Mona Campus said it has lost an ardent champion for tertiary education and a great friend of The UWI who worked tirelessly to advance The University's mission as a national and regional force.  His deep bond with the institution was formally celebrated on November 6, 1993, when The UWI conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa). On that occasion, he was affectionately hailed as a "prince of private enterprise" and a "zealous worker for the public good."

Mr Lalor was credited with fundamentally altering the UWI's financial landscape in the wake of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. He was instrumental in establishing the University Development and Endowment Fund (UWIDEF), serving as its Chairman. It was here that he conceptualised the "Century Club"— an initiative leveraging "the power and attraction of zeroes" by securing one-million-dollar pledges from 100 corporate firms rather than small individual donations.

'The direction of his philanthropy towards the field of education is in no respect more laudable and more innovative than in his chairmanship of this University’s Development and Endowment Fund," according to the 1993 citation.  It stated that Mr Lalor's vision was to build bridges of mutual understanding, cooperation, and trust between The UWI and the private sector.

In fact, Mr Lalor famously stated: “If The University fails, the region fails. If the region succeeds, it is because The University has succeeded.”

Mr Lalor went on to join The UWI Council in 1990. He also chaired the special committee established by the Council to make recommendations on the issue of a regional salary structure for academic and senior administrative staff, and served on the University Audit Committee. In 2008, his exceptional hands-on service was recognised with both the Vice-Chancellor’s Award and the UWI Alumni Association Pelican Award. In his later years, he continued to extend his expertise to the broader research community as a board member for the international research charity, UWI SODECO.

Principal of the Mona Campus, Professor Densil A. Williams, in paying tribute, noted that, “we have lost a faithful and diligent partner who had the UWI's interest squarely centred in his heart. He was one of those trailblazers who lived our Triple A Plan of 'Access, Alignment and Agility' long before the plan was born at The UWI under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Beckles. He forged the link between The UWI and the private sector when academic/industry partnership was not fashionable. He was a true visionary, and we at The UWI Mona will miss his wise counsel.”

The UWI Mona salutes Mr Lalor for his invaluable legacy to education, business, and public service, and extends its deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and all who were shaped by his extraordinary generosity and guidance.