by Rick Lowe
The Bahamas has lost a fine man.
According to his funeral brochure (reworded slightly here), Mr. Pinder was born in Palmetto Point, Eleuthera on October 8, 1928. His family later moved to Rock Sound, and he eventually moved to Nassau. He married Mrs. Doris "Dot" Kemp on February 25, 1950.
Mr. Pinder began his career in Nassau washing and waxing cars in his yard. Eventually the business grew and he moved it, first to Collins Avenue and Fifth Terrace and then to its present site in Shirley Heights. The business was then known as Pinder's Symonizing Company which is where Bahamas Bus & Truck sits today.
He expanded the business to sell used cars and then in 1962 his business was "awarded" the Chrysler franchise which was the beginning of Pinder's Auto Sales. Later on, he invited Mr. Wayde Sands to purchase part ownership in Bahamas Bus & Truck and they remained business partners until he died about a week ago.
Messrs Pinder and Sands became a force to be reckoned with in the business world building an empire that includes, Bahamas Bus & Truck, Sanpin Motors, Friendly Ford, Elite Motors, Multi Furniture, Multi Auto and other businesses.
Mr. Pinder was appropriately honoured with The Bahamas Order of Merit for Commerce at Government House in July 1999.
His first wife passed away in 2002 and about a year later he married his long time family friend Mrs. Marguerite Harvey and they enjoyed 9 years together.
Mr. Wayde Sands gave a wonderful and emotional tribute and I'm sure he will miss Mr. Pinder tremendously. He pointed out that in their 50 year relationship they never had an argument. Disagreements on some things yes, but they agreed to disagree, and move on.
They were/are no doubt a dynamic duo that Bahamians should be proud of. They are proof that people of meagre backgrounds willing to work hard can make it.
By the way, my Dad worked with/for Mr. Pinder at Pinder's Symonizing Company and although he moved on and they did not see much of each other, they were life long friends.
