A whole lot of Vincentians, different Caribbean nationals and Individuals on Saturday braved the wet, dreary climate to bid their ultimate farewell to Vaughan Toney, a Vincentian-born group advocate, childcare chief govt officer (CEO) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Ambassador-at-Giant, who died on Labor Day Monday, Sept. 4. He was 68.
Toney — the long-standing president and CEO of the Buddies of Crown Heights Instructional Facilities (FOCH), with operations primarily in Brooklyn, in addition to in Manhattan and Staten Island — succumbed to most cancers, in accordance with Hugh Hamilton, the Guyanese-born director of communications & program improvement at FOCH, “following a fiercely fought battle.”
Over 1,500 mourners jammed the pews of The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew, a sprawling Episcopal (Anglican) church on Clinton Avenue in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, for the 1 ½-hour-long service, which started at 10:12 a.m. and celebrated Toney’s life.
The church’s rector, the Rev. Andrew Durbidge, presided over your complete service, which was graced by the presence of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves, who earlier on Saturday had addressed the 78th Session of the United Nations Basic Meeting Debate.
Former St. Vincent and the Grenadines Well being and Overseas Affairs Minister Dr. Douglas Slater, Ambassador to the United Nations I. Rhonda King and United States Consul Basic Rondy “Luta” McIntosh had been amongst dignitaries on the service.
In his tribute, Prime Minister Gonsalves, who had conferred the brand new title of Ambassador-at-Giant on Toney, precisely one 12 months in the past on Saturday, described Toney as “a titan of our Vincentian civilization, a person of deep conviction, a person who was well mannered to the core.
“He had no malice in him,” he mentioned. “Goodness was on the middle. He was extraordinarily beneficiant together with his time and no matter little assets he had. He was selfless.
“We all know all the small print in his political activism,” the Vincentian chief added. “Even week earlier than he died, after I visited him, with the permission of Bridget [his wife], he was filled with optimism. He had in him a full sense of his private redemption.
“He was a splendid household man,” Dr. Gonsalves continued. “He didn’t fear about trivial issues. He was involved about who he may also help to make this world a greater place.
“I’ll miss him,” the prime minister mentioned. “He was my pricey buddy, my comrade, my patriot. Farewell brother, my comrade. On behalf of the individuals of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; on behalf of my household, together with the Labor Household [Unity Labor Party – laughter], could he relaxation in peace and the sunshine perpetual shine upon him.”
In his eulogy, Hamilton mentioned, whereas Toney was to his surviving household a husband, a father and a son, he was to him “a brother and a buddy”, and to numerous others “a colleague and a confidante, a mentor, a counselor, a information.
“He was a visionary who dared to dream, and dreamed to alter the world; a patriot and a philanthropist – uncompromisingly dedicated to his individuals,” Hamilton mentioned. “He was a boy from Calliaqua [the southernmost town on mainland St. Vincent], who grew as much as be a citizen of the world – an Ambassador-at-Giant in each that means of the stately title he bore so elegantly with satisfaction and dignity. He was a person for all seasons.”
Hamilton mentioned he first met Toney once they had been each newly recruited to the workers of then New York Metropolis Council Member, Jamaican Dr. Una S.T. Clarke, the primary Caribbean-born lady to be elected to New York Metropolis Council, some 30 years in the past.
“Vaughan was chief-of-staff, which suggests he was technically my boss,” he mentioned. “As younger males on the time, we circled one another considerably cautiously at first, however quickly developed a mutually respectful skilled relationship that developed over time to develop into an in depth and lifelong bond of brotherhood. A lot in order that, when he first requested me, 10 years in the past, to ship the eulogy at his funeral if he ought to predecease me, saying ‘no’ was by no means an choice.”
Hamilton mentioned Toney was “a person of religion”, who “lived his life with a way of objective.”
He additionally mentioned Toney was “a person of hope,” who was “relentlessly optimistic and earnestly believed that ‘no’ was by no means the proper reply in case you wished one thing badly sufficient.”
As well as, Hamilton described Toney was “a person of charity, which, in Christian thought, signifies the best type of love, and is the muse of all different virtues.
“And this charity, this dedication to selfless service for the love of others, has been the defining ethic of Vaughan’s complete life,” he mentioned, including that “there got here a time in his battle when Vaughan knew the top was imminent, and he confronted his ultimate curtain with a outstanding mixture of braveness, dignity and even a contact of unexpectedly sardonic humor.”
Hamilton disclosed that just a few weeks earlier than Toney’s demise, he visited him, “when, out of the blue, he appeared me within the eyes and mentioned, ‘Brother Hugh, I’m prepared for no matter comes subsequent [mourners sighed]. And when the time comes, please keep in mind that a eulogy just isn’t a State of the Union Deal with [laughter]. So, there’re no must go on and on.’
“And so, on behalf of all of us right here gathered, I shut by expressing to his mom Ela, his spouse Bridget, his youngsters, grandchildren and whole household our heartfelt sorrow and sympathy in your loss,” Hamilton continued. “There are not any phrases enough to assuage the grief of his family members who at the moment should bear the burden and the ache of his premature passing.
“In our second of sorrow, we additionally owe it to the reminiscence of our departed brother, Vaughan, to rejoice the life he lived, and to embrace the numerous moments and examples of affection and kindness and happiness he shared with us,” he mentioned. Vaughan Peter Adrian Toney lives on within the hearts and minds of all who knew and cherished him. And we pray that, with the passing of time, his reminiscence will endure as a residing inspiration to all of us who try to be of excellent braveness, holding quick to that which is sweet, and making a constructive distinction within the lives of others.”
In his homily, Fr. Durbidge famous that Toney “got here from humble roots” and that he “didn’t need to die.”
“He had issues to resolve,” he preached. “Nevertheless, there’s a time to die.
“All of us need to work with love and forgiveness, and to set proper relationships,” Fr. Durbidge added. “No matter love…, don’t depart it for one more day. Regardless of in case you’re a non secular individual or not, consider how your youngsters could provide totally different that means of their lives.
“I encourage you to mirror by yourself lives and what you hope individuals will keep in mind you at your individual funeral,” he continued.
Hamilton mentioned, in 2001, Toney narrowly misplaced an historic election bid to symbolize the 45th District within the New York Metropolis Council.
For the previous 22 years, nonetheless, he served as president and chief govt officer of FOCH, a New York State-registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit, community-based group within the Metropolis of New York.
“Throughout that tenure, he presided over the biggest growth and diversification of the company’s portfolio in its 46-year historical past,” Hamilton mentioned.
With a present community of 21 full-service Early Childhood Schooling Facilities in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island, he mentioned FOCH has developed beneath Toney’s management to develop into “the biggest city-contracted, not-for-profit supplier of sponsored youngster care and early schooling within the Metropolis of New York.”
Along with its signature, center-based Toddler/Toddler, 3K and Pre-Ok packages, the company additionally operates an intensive Household Little one Care Community, serving a whole lot of preschool youngsters in dozens of affiliated supplier houses in Brooklyn and Queens, Hamilton mentioned.
By means of separate contracts with the NYC Division of Youth and Group Improvement (DYCD), he mentioned FOCH additionally administers a number of Elementary and Center College Afterschool packages.
Moreover, FOCH is a state-contracted sponsoring company of the Little one and Grownup Care Meals Program (CACFP) — a diet schooling and meal reimbursement program, enabling suppliers to serve nutritious and safely ready meals and snacks to youngsters in licensed child-care settings.
Lawyer Narissa Morris, chair of FOCH’s Board of Administrators, instructed Caribbean Life on Monday that Darryl Davis, an African American native New Yorker, FOCH’s govt director, has been serving as interim CEO till Toney’s successor is known as.
In addition to his mom Ela and spouse Bridget, Toney is survived by youngsters Cherice, Tiffany and Adam; grandchildren Malachi, Tia, Liam, King and Tori; brothers Alan and Patrick; sisters Lucia, Bridget, Lafleur and Rhanda; uncles Hilton, Alwyn, Joel, Ulpian and Sydney; aunts Barbara, Grace and Lois; and lots of different relations and mates.
The committal of Toney’s physique takes place, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Calliaqua, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on Oct. 7.
