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Frederick Anthony
“Tony” Potopsingh
Apr 17, 1944 — Nov 4, 2023
Frederick Anthony ("Tony") Potopsingh was the only child of Ferdinand Edward Potopsingh and Gloria (Duncan) Potopsingh born in Kingston, Jamaica on April 17,1944. After the premature death of his mother, before his second birthday, he lived at the Potopsingh ancestral home located in Bailey's Vale in the Parish of St. Mary and was primarily raised by his grandmother, Mary Ann Potopsingh ("Nen"). There he was raised with his cousins Owen, Valentine ("Laddy"), Derrick ("Buddy") Potopsingh, Victoria ("Mearle"), and Therese ("Teri") Potopsingh. At 15 years old, Tony immigrated to London, England to rejoin his father who had previously migrated in the 1950's. There, he continued his education, made friends, and reconnected with his father.
Unexpectedly, his father would pass away 15 months after Tony's move to London, just one month after his 17th birthday. Undeterred, but not yet an adult in the eyes of the law, Tony continued his education whilst remaining in his inherited home at 153 Abbeville Road, Clapham, London. Guided by his father's lawyer, Mr. Hauser, whom Tony always praised for allowing him to retain his independence; and under the guardianship of his two cousins, Owen and Stanley Potopsingh, Tony's London home became a sanctuary for close friends and family from Jamaica, and new friends whom he met in London who had also travelled abroad to further their educational goals.
In 1962, Tony earned a degree in telecommunications at Brixton College and began his career in the Communications Department at the British Post Office, which oversaw the telephone service in London at that time. Shortly thereafter, he met a fellow Jamaican, from Mandeville, Joybelle Reid, who was attending nursing school in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. They married in 1963 and welcomed a daughter, Sandra Vanessa Potopsingh, soon thereafter. The small family improved upon the London home and Tony moved on to work for General Electric's ("G.E.") Telecommunications Department.
In 1968, the family briefly returned to Mandeville, Jamaica where Tony worked at Alcan as an electrical technician. They soon moved to New York in 1970, and in 1972 welcomed a second daughter, Marie Ann Potopsingh, named primarily after Tony's beloved grandmother, Mary Ann ("Nen"). In an effort to return to a more tropical climate, in 1973, the family headed to South Florida and rejoined longtime friends, Hartley and June Royes, whom they befriended in London.
Tony flourished in his newly adopted home, earning his journeyman's license, and commencing a successful career as an electrician in Florida. He became one of the founding members, and the first President of the Jamaica Domino Club of Fort Lauderdale. He ventured into real estate and opened Direct Electrical Supplies, Inc. in 1981, an electrical lighting and supply store. The business thrived and he soon purchased a warehouse for the business in Fort Lauderdale.
Despite this success, Tony always desired to return to Jamaica. In 1984, he expanded the business by opening a sister operation of Direct Electrical Supplies in Kingston. His location in Premier Plaza was extremely successful and he made the decision to relocate back to Jamaica at this time. Unfortunately, this fateful decision ended the marriage of Tony and Joy. However, they remained lifelong friends and continued to raise their daughters as a family unit.
Due to the success of the business, Tony purchased a building located at 120 Constant Spring Road, Kingston, and moved the store from Premier Plaza to this location, where the business continued to thrive. In 1991, Tony married Arlene ("Cole") Potopsingh and the two worked together in the business until his retirement.
Through the years, Tony encountered many adversities, personally and professionally, including several health battles. However, his positive outlook, work ethic, business acumen, tenacity, and sense of humor always persevered. Until the end, he continued to travel, visit with friends and family, and enjoyed reading, listening to music, and sending morning texts to stay in touch with his friends and family all over the world.
Tony's devotion to his children and his attachment to his family and longtime friends was genuine. Sadly, he was predeceased by daughter, Sandra Potopsingh Asher (Dustin) in 2021. He leaves to cherish his memories, wife, Arlene ("Cole") Potopsingh of Kingston, Jamaica; daughter, Marie Ann Potopsingh Gauthier; son-in-law Eric Gauthier of Coral Springs, Florida; grandson, Anthony Gauthier of Coral Springs, Florida; caretaker, Shernette Clarke, of Kingston, Jamaica; close friends, Michael King and Franklin Manhertz, and a host of other relatives and friends residing in Jamaica, Canada, England, and throughout the United States.
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