Jamaican advertising guru Robert MacMillian died aged 73 with many friends and family members attending a private viewing of his garden columbarium to celebrate his life at his elegant residence in Kingston yesterday (November 6).

MacMillian took over the advertising firm, founded by his father back in 1929 and ran it successfully for decades until his son Travis stepped up to steer it through the opening decades of a new century.

Robert MacMillan was a man of broad interests. He was erudite and always up on current affairs. He was particularly interested in how Jamaica could prosper as a nation and how the lives of its citizens could be improved.

A voracious reader, he had built an impressive library and took pride in the books that filled its shelves. He loved art and had some of the works of Jamaica’s best artists in his collection.

He was a gracious host and presided over many fine soirees held at his home which still remains reminiscent of a Roman senator’s villa BC.

A champion of the Peace Corps, he would host a party for the annual intake of young people coming to offer their services to Jamaica. He was an ardent Rotarian and was a fixture at the Kingston chapter for decades. Robert had an acerbic wit and could regale you with some colourful tale that at its heart, contained a homily.  One of his finest accomplishments was serving as dean of the Consular Corps of Jamaica.

There can be little doubt that he was a bon vivant who could truly let his hair down with those he deemed worthy.

A man who placed great stock in attire, he always looked the part – a sartorial sophisticate that could stand out in any era.

He loved the Sopranos and was a big fan of its creator and writer David Chase. A photograph of Tony and his crew still has pride of place in Robert MacMillan’s home bar.

The joy of his life he would tell you were his two sons, Travis and Elliot and he got to see them grow into fine young men. Travis is tasked with running the firm and taking it beyond the hundred years of its existence. He will be the third generation of MacMillan men to head the family advertising enterprise.

Elliot is pursuing a career in the financial services industry, having worked in the United States and now operating from London. He has a baby son, whom Robert was able to get acquainted with thus seeing in a new generation of MacMillans.

I always wanted to find out what Robert made of Matthew Weiner’s Mad Men,  a TV show about an advertising firm, with Don Draper as the central character.

Robert seem to embody the insouciance, wit and wisdom of Roger Sterling. He too was charged with bringing an advertising agency into a new time with changing social dynamics. Both Roger and Robert went at it with a certain aplomb.

Robert will leave an enduring legacy and I can hear him cackling at such a prospect.

Condolences to his sisters Judy Ann MacMillan, Peta Gay MacMillan, his sons Travis and Elliot and all members of his family.

Great stories happen to those who can tell them

Rest in peace, my friend.