Antoine Bonamy Laurent was born in Gonaives, Haiti on February 29, 1944 to Anita Baron and Amilcar Laurent.  He was the youngest of his 5 siblings:  Epstein Laurent, Max T. Laurent, Wilfreed Laurent, and Gislaine Laurent (Sister Paule Marie Du Christ-Roi).

Antoine obtained his degree in Statistics and Mathematics in 1968 from the Institute of Commerce and Economics in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  Shortly thereafter, he migrated to New York at the age of 24.  He met Marie Claude Theodore on the subway in October 1971 and courted her for several months. He proposed to her soon afterwards, and they got married in Brooklyn, NY on September 2, 1972.

As an immigrant, Antoine put himself through business school, earning a Bachelor's degree in Accounting at Baruch College in 1975 followed by a Master's in Finance at St. John's University in 1977. He then became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and started his studies for his PhD in Economics at New York University. He spent fifteen years working for United Artists in New York then moved to Haiti in 1983 to build a successful CPA firm, Turnier & Laurent. His wife and 3 daughters joined him in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1986.

His life changed in April 1997 after becoming disabled due to a brutal robbery, shooting, and attempt on his life. Due to the grace of God, he was blessed with another 22 years of life, where he was fortunate to marry off his two oldest daughters and meet his 5 grandchildren, including the youngest who was born recently in January 2019.

In addition to academics, he loved sports, playing soccer, tennis and volleyball, and he was a faithful New York Giants fan.    However, nothing could top the love he had for his family, especially his wife, Marie Claude Laurent, his daughters and sons-in-law, Nagelah Laurent Cohen (Patrick Cohen), Alexandra Laurent Budd (Keith Budd) and Magalie Laurent.  Antoine leaves behind his grandchildren, Anya, Micah, and Zayne Cohen, Blake and Liam Budd. He also leaves behind his siblings, Wilfreed and Ghilsaine Laurent, several nieces and nephews as well as family and friends.

Antoine will be deeply missed, but we are comforted that he is no longer suffering and is at peace now.

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