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Remembering . . . JOSEPH MICHEL NAMPHY

A celebration of life

(Cap-Haitian, Haiti - February 6, 1936 - Lauderhill, Florida - September 19, 2009)

including Haiti’s participation in the 1974 World Cup, a memorable era in
Haitian football. He was known for his role in promoting soccer in urban and
rural Haiti in the 1970’s and again in the 1990’s and in the first years of the new
century, by building parks and soccer fields in various part of Haiti. He was in-
strumental in promoting soccer in the U.S. as well during a critical time for this
sport’s growing profile (late 1970’s and early 1980’s). Joe had a close relation-
ship with the late Miami sports magnate Joe Robby, and performed managerial
duties for the Miami Toros and the Ft Lauderdale Strikers (NASL, 1970’s).
He played a critical role, upon the request of the Prime Minister of Haiti, Mr.
Gérard Latortue, in negotiating, purchasing and installing the artificial turf for
the total refurbishing of Stade Sylvio Cator. The assigned mission was to pre-
pare the venue for the historic Game for Peace between the national teams of
Brazil and Haiti in Port-au-Prince on August 18, 2004. An herculean task that
was accomplished in less then 8 weeks.
Mr. Namphy also volunteered both with Sister City initiatives for the City of
Lauderhill, as well as with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities initiatives,
particularly in the Fort Lauderdale - Cap Haitian sister city partnership. He
worked for the promotion of various development projects during the last 35
years of his life, most of them focusing on the economic development of Haiti
and crisis management. He returned to Haiti in the early 1970’s, always with
his dream of making a difference by creating opportunities for every sector of
the population.
Mr. Namphy was a pundit on Haitian economics, among other subjects, in-
cluding on “60-minutes” with the late Ed Bradley during the period of the
Conseil National de Gouvernement 1986-1988, during which time his elder
brother, Lt. Gen. Henri Namphy, served as President of Haiti. In the 90’s, he
was instrumental in the show BAJOU KASE - NEW DAWN IN HAITI, a
Broward County’s Television Broadcast narrated by the late Bill Merritt. He
was also quoted in many books and articles, including E. Abbott’s “HAITI:
The Duvaliers and their Legacy”.
He was a major player in Haitian tourism in Haiti as well. His Resumé includes
top managerial positions at the Hotel Villa St. Louis (1983-1986) and the Hotel
El Rancho (1986-1988). He played a significant role in establishing Labadie
as one of the major port-of-calls for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, nearly 30
years ago.
For the past 20 years, Mr. Namphy supported the family business created by
his loving wife Mimie, OLD WORLD CREATIONS, specializing in painted
metal decor from Haiti’s artisanat sector. One would always see him with a
colorful shirt, cap or hat, at international trade shows and other marketing
events throughout Florida. He would welcome would-be customers to the
booth that he had tirelessly worked to set up, with words like “Welcome to
Old World Creations, the land of steel drums.” We, of course, remember the
famous Chevy Van filled with his notes and inventory samples.
Very recently, Mr. Namphy was again the “infatiguable” volunteer with TEAM
LAUDERHILL in the 2008 Campaign for Change, providing key logistical
support for the campaign to elect Barack Obama to the White House in the his-
toric election last November. Mr. Namphy often described his heartfelt pride
while traveling to Washington D.C. with a group of volunteers, to witness his-
tory in the making on January 20, 2009, the inauguration of President Barack
Simply Stated: “He touched every Haitian life, directly or otherwise, by Obama as the 44th President of the United States. He appeared on South Flori-
his actions, his humility, his empathy for all and his love for mankind.” da’s evening news multiple times both before and after the inauguration.
In the early 60’s, Joe received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of De- “Jojo” will for ever be remembered for his cheerful and gregarious personality,
troit (after a one-year stint at Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1956-1957). A self-starter quick wit and sense of humor, and voluminous knowledge (and expression!).
and entrepreneur while still in college, he worked his way up the upper ladder He was never one to miss a word! A people-person, if ever there was one, who
of management in the food service industry, despite the major racial discrimi- lived to interact and discuss all matters. He was known in some circles as the
nation and rampant barriers of the epoch. These experiences, he would often “walking and talking encyclopedia.” (Jojo is known and love by MANY, if not
share in graphic and colorful details with his by all!) Father of 4, the last few years of his life, he increasingly took pride in
friends and colleagues, without negative feelings. He later worked with the his role as a grandfather as well.
multinational, SAGA FOOD CORPORATION, representing the company as
far away as Beirut, Lebanon. His true passion was sports. He was inextrica- We all missed his contagiously smile
bly associated with soccer before and after he served as Secretary General of
Federation Haitienne de Football (Haitian Soccer Federation) in the 1970’s, and positive personality.
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