Julian Castillo remembers Dr. Neil Garbutt Excellent!Very GoodGoodFairPoor Rating: 5 / 5 (2 votes)   Posted: 03/07/2009 - 11:57 AM Author: Julian Castillo Wednesday, July 1, 2009   Dear Editor,       I read with great interest the essay published in the Amandala of Sunday June 28, 2009 about Dr. Neil Garbutt, who recently passed away. He was also my friend and classmate at St. John’s College, where we first met in First Form and graduated together at the end of six years after Sixth Form.     I have always looked up to Neil, not only because he was taller, but also because I admired him in many ways. As a classmate I remember him as a good friend whose calm and reassuring manner made me feel comfortable and at ease in his presence.     I agree with the publisher’s opinion that Neil’s achievement of becoming a world class surgeon specialist was not only impressive, but indeed spectacular. His story needs to be told because he is an outstanding role model. His life demonstrates that much can be achieved with hard work, dedication, perseverance and making the most of opportunities as they come our way.     I later became his patient and I observed that he continued to be the same decent, quiet and unassuming person that I first got to know as a boy. And I was still looking up to him; this time as my doctor.     I was happy to read that Neil told the publisher on his death bed that he was not afraid. This indicated to me that he had found peace with his Creator. He had answered the Creator’s call and had become an outstanding member of one of the noblest of professions. Well done, good and faithful servant.   May he rest in peace.      Julian Castillo