Shared Stories of Life With Avelino Samuel at Weekend Memorial

On a Saturday in Friis Bay, St. John, friends and family lingered over memories of their life with Avelino Samuel. Hundreds of people gathered at Miss Lucy’s Restaurant to remember Samuel as patriarch, craftsman, educator, athlete and fisherman.

Samuel, 68, died June 7 after a lengthy illness. Those assembled in seats under a canopy with a platform set up for speakers faced a portrait of the deceased painted by his sister, Karen Samuel. There was no urn, no casket — nothing left to mourn.

Nephew Kurt Marsh Jr. invited anyone who wanted to share the stories of the time they spent with Avelino, also known as Bino.

There were many. All of them recalled a humble, unassuming man who set high standards for himself and all of those around him.

Evans Williams shared a lifetime of memories for a man he called his best friend. Michael Hodge spoke about the days they played volleyball together at school and in the St. Thomas Advanced Power League.

Coach Elridge Blake told a story about taking Samuel and his teammates from the then-College of the Virgin Islands to a regional competition where they returned home as medalists.

Like a proud parent, Blake added that all of those teammates went on past their college years to contribute to their community; doctors, coaches, military men, and artists.

Librarian Janet Burton and others spoke about the 30 years he spent teaching industrial arts at the Julius E. Sprauve School. She also recalled the days he sat quietly in her classroom. “Avelino was my student in the seventh- or eighth grade,” she said.