kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
After 63 years of designing costumes that brought joy to thousands of masqueraders, veteran mas man Lionel Jagessar Snr is no more.
The 72-year-old, 1999 Humming Bird Silver Medal recipient died peacefully at his home along Gransaul Street, San Fernando, yesterday.
He took his last breath, surrounded by his family.
He leaves to mourn his wife, former National Carnival Queen of the Bands Rosemarie Kuru-Jagessar, and his children Nicole David, Lisa Karu-Bhagwandeen, Larry Kuru and Lionel Jagessar Jr.
Jagessar Jr told Sunday Guardian that it was only in January that doctors diagnosed his father with an illness, and his health had deteriorated in recent weeks.
“He was not well for a while, but he passed peacefully today. He did not leave in any pain. He had family members close to him. He did not leave with any regrets,” Jagessar Jr said.
Jagessar Snr was the founder of Jagessar Costumes, formerly Lionel Jagessar & Associates, based at Gransaul Street. It was where his family dwelt for approximately 150 years after his great-grandfather came to Trinidad as an indentured labourer.
Jagessar Jr said his father remembered Gransaul Street as a gravel road in the then borough. As a child, Jagessar Snr used stones to draw on the floor before teaching himself to paint on paper. At age nine, he got into mas making, designing axes and shields for a Viking-themed Carnival band in the community. It was history-making from there, winning numerous Carnival titles with his band for over 45 years, thrilling with fancy and traditional Indian Mas.
“He was Superman to me. To me, he was perfect. I can still walk anywhere and feel proud because I carry his name. He used to get into many fights long time, but I can still walk day and night on Mucurapo Street, Coffee Street or anywhere, and people respected me because of who my father was. I could go anywhere in the world, and people would recognise me because of him.”
