Reflection by the Dinthill Past Students Association on Miss Grace G. McLean: also known as Amazing Grace and “The Pension Queen”.
Some lives do not merely occupy space—they cultivate it. They plant seeds in the hearts of everyone they touch, leaving behind a harvest that outlives the seasons.
Early Life
In September of 1978, a young girl stepped through the historic gates of Dinthill Technical High School. Her name was Grace G. McLean. But history, love, and a lifetime of unshakeable impact would come to know her by two other names: “Amazing Grace” and “The Pension Queen.”
Her story began along Fairfield Road in Spanish Town. Every single day, she made the journey, traveling by bus, watching the changing landscape of Jamaica roll past her window. At Dinthill, her destiny found its soil. Specializing in Agricultural Science, Grace didn’t just study the earth—she fell completely in love with the vocation. She learned the quiet rhythm of farming, the patience required to watch something grow from nothing.
She later credited those classrooms and fields with sparking her dual passions: the beauty of the land and the mechanics of business. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer, she perfectly captured her forward-thinking ambition, recalling:
“My dream was to have streams of income. I loved the business aspect of Agriculture, and Accounting was my favourite subject.”
To Grace, the earth and the ledger were never separate. As she so beautifully put it:
“Agriculture is an art, a science, and a business.”
Career
When Grace left the halls of Dinthill with the graduating Class of 1982, she carried that unique blend of artistry and precision into the wider world. Over the next two decades, she became a formidable force in the financial sector. From life insurance and commercial banking to merchant banking and high-level investments, Grace navigated the complex world of finance with a rare grace.
Eventually, she found her true professional home at BPM Financial, stepping into her calling as a Financial Advisor and Retirement Specialist. It was here that her technical mastery met her deep empathy for human beings. She wasn’t just managing wealth; she was securing futures. She was protecting the dignity of people’s twilight years.
Because of her absolute mastery, her sharp wit, and her fierce advocacy for her clients, she earned a title she wore like a crown: “The Pension Queen.”
Yet, no matter how high her professional star rose, her heart remained anchored to the place where it all began. Grace loved her Alma Mater with a fierce, unyielding devotion. She made a sacred pledge to give back to Dinthill in a way that would leave a permanent mark.
Alumni Service
In 2018, Grace officially joined the Past Students Association under the leadership of then-President Mr. Fred Sutherland. She started where all true leaders do—in the trenches, as an Events and Fundraising committee member. But energy like Grace’s cannot be contained. By the very next year, she was elected to the Executive Board.
From there, she became a whirlwind of progress. She served as Events and Fundraising Chairman, Public Relations Officer, and First Vice President. She was a leader poised to ascend to the Presidency itself.
While she served the entire Dinthill family, her bond with her own peer group was legendary. She spearheaded the Class of 1982, leading their monumental 40th-anniversary celebration in 2022. Under her guidance, the Class of 1982 launched visionary initiatives, including the Adopt-a-Class program. They adopted the incoming Class of 2027 for the entire duration of their studies—tracking their progress, mentoring them, and providing financial and social support to nearly two hundred students from first form all the way through sixth form.
When COVID-19 threatened to halt the world in 2020, Grace refused to let the PSA’s mission falter. Under President Donovan Betancourt, she spearheaded a groundbreaking Online Mediathon, ensuring the school’s lifeline remained unbroken.
Look across the Dinthill landscape, and you will see the fingerprints of Amazing Grace everywhere:
Agri Fest: An extraordinary agricultural festival that united local farmers, schools, and organizations, while triumphantly showcasing Dinthill’s agricultural prowess.
The Trust Fund Day of Giving: An initiative she personally championed, raising over $500,000.00 for the school.
The Enos Barrett Centre: Where she brought a vulnerable retiree resident to the attention of the Association, transforming it into a beautiful, permanent annual maintenance project.
Whether she was delivering powerhouse motivational speeches at devotional exercises, giving financial blueprints at the Sixth Form Retreat, or recruiting new talent to the PSA executive, Grace was a constant, radiant presence.
And oh, how she showed up for the students! When the Dinthill School Band was crowned the number-one school band in the nation, Grace was there from day one. When the All Together Sing choir took the championship, Grace was there celebrating. When the School Challenge Quiz team fought their way to the semifinals, it was Grace who coordinated, motivated, and inspired them. When the Badminton Boys brought home the championship, Grace was on the sidelines, their fiercest cheerleader.
Grace operated with a grand vision for Dinthill’s future. She dreamed of a Total Infrastructure Development Program—rebuilding the school, improving it one block at a time. She envisioned a massive Welfare Farm, expanding the pig and poultry operations into a self-sustaining ecosystem. Her goal was beautiful in its simplicity: to generate profits from the farm to care for former students who had fallen on hard times, while supporting current teachers and students.
Her signature fundraisers were the Benefit Plays, masterfully orchestrated for both the PSA and her beloved Class of 1982. And on Mother’s Day in 2026, she gave us her final masterpiece. She spearheaded an extravagant showcase at the Little Theatre, complete with an elegant, welcoming cocktail reception. It was a night of pure sophistication, executed flawlessly by the Amazing Grace.
It was to be one of her final beautiful acts. Life, in its mysterious and sometimes cruel timing, had different ideas.
Grace lived by a personal motto: “Living Above Self.” It was the title of her podcast, and the blueprint of her daily existence. Her impact extended far into the service community; she was an active part of the Kiwanis movement and a director-elect of the Rotary Club of Kingston, set to be formally inducted on July 1, 2026.
She leaves us with her own powerful words, a guiding light for women and leaders everywhere:
“As a woman in business, it has been quite challenging, but I am motivated by the opportunities that life presents to make a positive impact on the lives of others, as I aim to live a purpose-driven life.“
Grace, you did not just live a purpose-driven life. You were the purpose. You were the comfort for the needy, the champion for the youth, and the absolute gold standard of what it means to be a Dinthill past student.
The motto of the Dinthill Technical High School is Facta Non Verba—Deeds, Not Words.
Grace, those words were brought to life. You were Facta Non Verba in breathtaking, radiant action.
The fields of Dinthill will remember you. The Class of 1982 will carry you. The generations you touched will honor you.
Walk good, Amazing Grace. Walk good, our Pension Queen. Your harvest will feed this world for generations to come.
