AMCHAM T&T would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of former U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Joseph Mondello.

Mr. Mondello, who passed away on Monday afternoon at the age of 84, served as U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago between October 2018 and January 2021. During this period, he also served in an ex-officio position on the Board of AMCHAM T&T, representing the U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We are very saddened by the passing of Ambassador Mondello,” said AMCHAM T&T CEO, Nirad Tewarie. “Mr. Mondello’s contributions to AMCHAM T&T helped strengthen our ties to the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. government through many positive and beneficial engagements around national security and peacekeeping issues, trade and investment opportunities, and access to influential U.S. policymakers, business leaders and U.S. based companies/firms. He was very open, accessible, and down-to-earth in his dealings with us. He served his government at a difficult time in T&T-US relations but always sought to build bridges and conducted himself in a gentle and dignified manner.”

As the U.S. Ambassador to T&T, Mr. Mondello’s coordination of the USNS Comfort mission to Trinidad and Tobago in 2019 provided free medical coverage for over 7,000 patients, 90 percent of whom were T&T nationals, including 119 surgeries. “AMCHAM T&T donated 50 pap smears, 1000 school kits, 200 first aid kits, bottled water, snacks, storage, and transportation services to this initiative which were sponsored by our members. AMCHAM T&T remains very grateful to Mr. Mondello and the U.S. Embassy for their support and coordination of activities around this initiative,” Tewarie said.

“With regard to his relationship with AMCHAM T&T, he spoke at our AGM, hosted the Ambassador’s reception for our members and held numerous smaller meetings with our Board. He really made a concerted effort to strengthen ties between T&T and the U.S. We are grateful for all that he did and are better off for having known and worked with him,” Tewarie said.

Mondello is survived by his wife, Linda Elizabeth Crabtree, and daughters Elizabeth Mondello and Lisa Ostuni. He was preceded in death by his son, Joseph Nestor Mondello, last year.

For further questions or comments please contact: Nirad Tewarie, CEO of AMCHAM T&T at niradtewarie@amchamtt.com.