Memories of Ambassador Keith Johnson all have the same theme - admiration for this tall, always impeccably dressed Jamaican gentleman who served as an ambassador for Jamaica for more than three decades. He is remembered for his years as our ambassador to Washington and the Organisation of American States 1981-1991, where he made his mark representing a newly independent nation finding its way into the corridors of world power.

When he served in New York as consul general (1962-67), he endeared himself not only to professional associates, but to the wide family of Jamaicans in the diaspora to whose well-being he dedicated much time. He was particularly determined to get recognition for the many Jamaicans who excelled in all spheres of professional life as well as the lesser-known, but equally valuable men and women from all over Jamaica who contributed to the development of their host community. He would go to extraordinary lengths to be associated with their various social events. One such which he never missed was the annual Nurses Springtime luncheon held in New York which not only provided camaraderie for nurses from 'back home', but assisted projects in Jamaica through their fund-raising.

Excellence and diligence

When he was assigned to the post of Jamaica's permanent representative to the United Nations (1967-73), he blazed another trail characterised by excellence and diligence. He served at a critical time (in the 1970s) and got much done by working quietly behind the scenes. He served Jamaica also as representative to the Federal Republic of Germany where one of the highlights of his illustrious career was the service he gave as rapporteur general of the first international environment conference held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1974. This was the first occasion, it is reported, in which the environmental agenda was introduced to developing countries and Ambassador Johnson's role in the conference is still recalled.

A younger colleague in the diplomatic service, who credits much of her achievements to Ambassador Johnson's generous sharing of his knowledge, his willingness to teach and guide, says Jamaica owes much to the work which Ambassador Johnson did quietly and without fanfare in the years when the country began finding its place in a larger and more demanding world.

Quintessential public servant

He was a great friend of the late Hugh Lawson Shearer, Jamaica's third prime minister who, as minister of foreign affairs, made Jamaica's first submission to the United Nations General Assembly soon after the country gained Independence.

Ambassador Johnson is survived by twin daughters, Hope and Marie whose mother, the eminent practitioner and University of the West Indies (UWI) lecturer Dr Elise Robinson-Johnson, was the ambassador's first wife. His second marriage was to Dr Pamela Rodgers-Christian, first female medical graduate of the University College of the West Indies, now deceased.

On the occasion of the UWI conferring on him the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa in November 1995, it was noted in the citation that he was an ambassador with a gentle, caring heart, but of iron integrity and principle ... a man of infinite tact who never paraded his connections. In working for the cause of Jamaica and its citizens at home and abroad, he was the quintessential public servant.

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