By Nelson A. King
The steel band fraternity in
Brooklyn is mourning the passing
of Trinidadian “Iron Man,”
Hansel B. Leon, Sr., who died
in his native land on March 25.
He was 77.
Leon’s daughters, Krishanda
Leon-Jemmott and Natasha
Leon-Craigwell — both
residents of Brooklyn — told
Caribbean Life on Sunday that
their father died at Couva Hospital
in Trinidad and Tobago.
“As a family, it is still unclear
of how he died,” they said in an
interview.
But Herman Hall, the Grenadian
born publisher of the
Brooklyn-based, Caribbean
American magazine, Everybody’s,
posted on Facebook,
on March 26, that Leon, who
resided in Flatbush, Brooklyn,
was “a victim of COVID-19.”
He said that Leon – who
promoted steelpan music in
the US for almost four decades
and “was once married to (the)
popular Jean Leon, well known
Trinbagonian-New Yorker and
former Director of Nursing at
Kings County Medical Center
– made his annual pilgrimage
to Trinidad & Tobago carnival
on Feb. 5; he remained in his
birth country to avoid wintry
New York.”
Hall said Leon, who was a
welder by occupation, “fell ill
on March 13 and (was) admitted
at Couva Hospital.
“Based on his early departure
from New York, he may
have contracted the deadly
virus in Trinidad & Tobago,”
Hall wrote.
Jean Leon, who was actually
a chief executive officer at the
sprawling Kings County Hospital
Caribbean L 18 ife, April 3-9, 2020
in Brooklyn, told Caribbean
Life that she and Leon were
divorced 23 years ago.
She referred the paper to
Leon’s elder daughter, Krishanda,
for more information about
her ex-husband’s passing.
Krishanda then sought out
younger sister, Natasha, to join
the interview.
“Daddy had an ear for timing
and rhythm like no other,” they
said. “He played many roles
in the steel band fraternity.
His talents allowed him to play
many percussion instruments
skillfully, including the tenor
steel pan.
“He was well known for playing
the iron, thus his nickname
the ‘Iron Man’,” they added. “He
did not only bring his musical
talents to this community
(Brooklyn) but also his smile,
personality and dance moves.”
Hall also said that Leon “beat
the iron in the rhythm section
of several steel band orchestras
in Brooklyn, as they rehearsed
for Brooklyn’s panorama at the
Brooklyn Museum grounds
every Labor Day weekend, and
added ‘riddim’ in most soca /
calypso parties and concerts.
“A diehard fan of calypso,
steelpan, carnival and other
events that promoted the culture
of Trinidad & Tobago,
‘Hanny’ (Leon) was a regular
or ‘limer’ at Sesame Flyers, the
popular cultural and educational
organization on Church
Avenue, Brooklyn,” he said.
“He attended calypso tents
and shows presented by Everybody’s
magazine,” Hall added.
Joyce Quamina – the Trinidadian
born, former longstanding
treasurer of the
Hansel Leon, Sr. (left) and his son, Hansel Leon, Jr.
Krishanda Leon-Jemmott and Natasha Leon-Craigwell
Brooklyn-based West Indian
American Day Carnival Association
(WIADCA), the group
that organizes the annual Caribbean
carnival extravaganza
in Brooklyn – said Leon was “a
good ‘Iron Man’.
“I know him beating the
iron,” she told Caribbean Life
tersely.
Steel band fraternity mourns passing
of Trinidadian ‘Iron Man’ Hansel Leon