Antonio Litman started temporary work in the mailroom of International Registries Inc (IRI) in New York some 28 years ago. In an early conversation there, IRI managing partner Clay Maitland dissuaded Litman from aspirations of seeking work as an undertaker.

Over the next three decades, Litman would rise to a role as Maitland’s right-hand man at the helm of the Marshall Islands flag while running a charity for underprivileged children, named after Maitland’s mother.