Peter Muir

Peter Muir was born October 1937 into a dysfunctional family located in downtown Kingston, Jamaica. Peter's family was so poor that he occasionally attended elementary school barefoot. From childhood he was a rebel with a passion to rescue his beloved mother from the disrespect and distress she experienced from her mother-in-law and her husband. No public high schools were built in Jamaica until 1961. To fund his high school education Peter started working at 11 years, teaching extra lessons to...See more

Peter Muir was born October 1937 into a dysfunctional family located in downtown Kingston, Jamaica. Peter's family was so poor that he occasionally attended elementary school barefoot. From childhood he was a rebel with a passion to rescue his beloved mother from the disrespect and distress she experienced from her mother-in-law and her husband. No public high schools were built in Jamaica until 1961. To fund his high school education Peter started working at 11 years, teaching extra lessons to students at Holy Family Elementary School. In 1952 at age 14 he entered St. George's College (High School) in Form 3B, skipping two forms. He placed first for Jamaica in the 1955 British Senior Cambridge Examinations. In 1958 he won an international scholarship to Harvard University for full tuition, room and board. He worked on campus, cleaning dormitories, serving in dining rooms and in the libraries. Varied work experiences include high school chemistry teacher, chief chemist, new products supervisor, sales manager, marketing manager, restaurant owner, chairman and secretary of Shish Kebab Limited. He was the first member of Sales and Marketing Executives International to be awarded an international scholarship to their Marketing and Sales Management Graduate Program at Syracuse University. In 1964 he fell madly in love with Beverley Hanson at first sight, and wrote her love poems on special occasions throughout their forty years of marriage. The union produced two children, Susan and David whose accomplishments made their parents proud. In 1984, Beverley was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) and designated medically disabled for more than 20 years of their marriage. He retired before age 50 to concentrate on personal investments and taking care of his wife. He was inducted into the Rotary Club of Downtown Kingston and served as a director and treasurer. He founded a scholarship program in his Rotary club for needy inner-city primary and secondary school students. Volunteering in Youth Opportunities Unlimited, he mentored and tutored teenage inner-city boys. He also served on the boards of community, school, professional, sports and service organizations. He was awarded Volunteer of the Year 2006 by the Jamaica International Volunteer Committee in association with the United Nations Volunteer Program in recognition of dedicated commitment to community and nation building through voluntary service. See less