A tribute to our beloved son and one of a kind human being – By Marie Wambeek
Vernon Glen Wambeek was our eldest son, named after his father Vernon however everyone knew him as Glen. He studied at Wesley College in Colombo where he ended up becoming a prefect. He was into various sports including Rugby, Cricket and Athletics, in addition to being a Judo National Champion. He also took part in school plays; his most memorable role was when he played Julius Caesar in a Shakespearean Drama Competition which he ended up winning.
Glen moved to Australia in 1977 and started his career in the hotel industry, eventually opening up his own restaurant in Crows Nest known as the ‘Rangoon Racquet Club’. It was voted one of the top restaurants in New South Wales.
Glen married and became a father of 2 sons; Glen Junior and Cameron who he loved dearly. Glen grabbed every opportunity and was the proud Managing Director of the investment construction management business that he started in 1993. His business grew due to his astute judgment, intelligence and expertise. He was professional in the way he managed his business and was loved by both his staff and customers. Glen loved the finer things in life, he spoilt not only himself but was generous to family and friends. His charm and ability to converse combined with his sense of humour were what contributed to his success in his business. His down to earth nature of communicating with his clients made them feel comfortable with him while he walked them through purchasing a property with him. The many testimonials on his company website will attribute to the ease in which he managed his business.
Glen, along with his brothers, father and I, loved visiting Sri Lanka. He particularly enjoyed catching up with his old friends, and those friendships always picked up where they left off. Glen always made time to visit his grandparents’ gravesites to pay his respects no matter how hectic his schedule was.
My son was a hard worker; he worked tirelessly to build his company over 29 years. He also wanted to pay it forward, which involved enrolling in a mentor program at a local school. While he gained much satisfaction from his work and achievements, his pride and joy were his 2 sons. Losing Glen 2 years ago is a heartache that my husband Vernon and I have to bear. We will hold on to our memories of our kind, generous and loving son. We will miss him every day for the rest of our lives.
I would like to end this tribute with a quote written by Robin Sharma that my son Beverly shared.
“When you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Son, live your life in such a way that when you die, the world cries-while you rejoice. “
This quote truly reflects Glen. All his dear relatives and friends sadly miss him but he is fondly remembered always.
Written by Marie Wambeek
