A digitized copy of “Helen Chinsee, selected works from 1954 – 1991” has been added to the Biographies/Journals section of the website. This journal, transcribed and edited by Monroe Chinsee, grandnephew of Rupert Chinsee, was presented to Helen on the occasion of her 80th birthday celebration in Miami, Florida, 1994.
Helen Chinsee, born Hu Ching Hsien on April 21, 1914, in Wushih, China, near Shanghai, embarked on a life filled with remarkable achievements and resilience. As the second of five children in a family of professionals, Helen’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and a drive to excel.
In 1940, Helen married Rupert B. Chinsee, a fellow student at the University of Chicago. The couple returned to China, where they faced both joy and sorrow with the birth of their two children—a son who tragically died at age four and a daughter, Joy, who resided in Miami.
In 1950, amidst the turmoil of war-torn China, Helen and Rupert moved to Falmouth, Jamaica, a place that would become Helen’s second home. For 55 years, she thrived as an entrepreneur and industrial pioneer in rural Jamaica, making significant contributions to the community and the local economy.
Helen’s career was diverse and dynamic. She held roles as an accountant, secretary, translator, and press monitor in China. After moving to Jamaica, she founded “Carib Metal Works,” an aluminum factory that provided much-needed employment and boosted the local Jamaican economy. Later, she founded “Fachoy Foods Ltd.” a soy sauce factory, also in Jamaica. Fachoy Foods is still in operation today in Martha Brae, Trelawny of which her grandson, Michael Eaton, is a co-owner/manager with the Hew Family of Montego Bay. Her writings, often published under her maiden name Helen Hu in The Daily Gleaner, reflected her humor, appreciation of rural life, and keen business acumen.
Helen’s life story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and dedication. Her contributions to Jamaican society, both as an industrial pioneer and a writer, demonstrate her unwavering commitment to the common good. Her legacy continues to inspire those who strive to make a positive impact in their communities.
As we celebrate Helen Chinsee’s extraordinary journey, we honor not just her accomplishments, but her enduring spirit and the difference she made in the lives of those around her.