Jawahir Jairam, who worked at Southampton Hospital as a nurse for 27 years and lived in Montauk for 50, died at East End Hospice in Westhampton Beach on Sept. 13. He had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other health problems, and would have turned 81 later this month.
Known to most as Jay, Mr. Jairam immigrated to this country in 1966 with $23 in his pocket, determined to make a better life for his family.
He was born in the South American country of Guyana on Sept. 29, 1939, to Ramlall and Mangree Jairam. In Guyana Mr. Jairam ran his own school with 27 students, who were said to have nicknamed him Lincoln because of his love of learning.
In 1965 he married Geeta Jaipersaud, who is known as Shirley. She survives him. While in Guyana they had one son, and they had three more children after they moved to the United States.
Mr. Jairam's first job here was as a bellboy and handyman at the Takamatzia Motel in Montauk. In 1969 the family moved to Queens so he could attend nursing school. He took a job at Queens General Hospital, but he and his wife decided they wanted to raise their family "in the country," so they moved back to Montauk. Mr. Jairam commuted to Queens for work until Southampton Hospital hired him as a nurse in 1978. He retired in 2005.
"Jay loved his family and was a man of deep Hindu faith," his family said. He enjoyed fishing and crabbing in his free time. He also loved watching Mets games on TV and sneaking sweets.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Indra Johnson of Randolph, N.Y., and twin sons, Dharma Jairam of Laurel, Neb., and Vake Jairam of Austin, Tex. Three grandchildren also survive, as do two sisters, Betty Toonda and Gangadai Gobindranaugh, both of Queens. Mr. Jairam's eldest son, Davendra, died in 2011.
Mr. Jairam was cremated in keeping with the Hindu faith. A service took place last Thursday at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. His family has suggested memorial donations to East End Hospice, online at eeh.org.
