BVI mourns loss of former USVI AG Godfrey de Castro

Godfrey Rufus De Castro, 84, of St. Thomas and Tortola died on Wednesday, 24 January, 2007 at home.

A service was held on Friday, 2 February, at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, in St. Thomas. The body was then be transported to Tortola for the funeral service on Saturday, 3 February, at the St. George’s Anglican Church in Road Town with the funeral commencing at 10:00am followed by Interment  at the St. George’s Cemetery. In St Thomas the eulogy was delivered by Captain Alonzo de Castro, and in Tortola by Paul L. Gimenez.

Godfrey Rufus de Castro was born in Road Town, Tortola, BVI on 21 September 1922. He graduated from the Charlotte Amalie High School. After graduating from High School, he worked for the St. Thomas Daily News. In 1945, along with his brothers Dennis and Alonzo, he volunteered to serve in the U.S Army during World War II. While serving in the US Army, the three brothers became US citizens. Upon his discharge from the Army, Godfrey moved to New York City and then later enrolled at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and graduated three years later with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, “Magna Cum Laude” (the highest graduation honour).  He later enrolled at Harvard University and graduated with a Law degree and within a year he was admitted to the New York State Bar and worked for the New York State Supreme Court. He later went to work for the Hon. Thurgood Marshall, who at that time was the Chief Counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Later on, he became Chief Counsel for the New York City Housing Department. In the mid-1980s, upon his retirement, Godfrey returned to St. Thomas where in 1987 he was appointed the V.I. Attorney General under the Farrelly Administration. From 1987 to 1990 he reformed and expanded the Attorney General office and left behind a tremendous legacy of achievements that will never be forgotten. In the words of USVI Governor John P. de Jongh Jr, “Godfrey de Castro was a commanding taskmaster whose sense of professionalism and propriety challenged many to do better.”

  He was a trustee of the Frederick Pickering Memorial Foundation (BVI) since its inception in the mid 1980s.  He is remembered by former USVI Governor Charles W. Turnbull as a “legal mind par excellence.” He is also remembered as a patriot of both the British and US Virgin Islands and a person of high principles. Long before Rosa Parks, while returning to St. Thomas on the BVI government launch “Lady Kate” he refused to give his seat to the BVI Commissioner and was arrested, but when the case went to Court, Godfrey de Castro won the case.

He is survived by his sisters: Lilian de Castro Pickering (STT), Enid de Castro (STT), and Daisy Bell (VA); brothers: Conrad (STT), Donald (BVI), and Alonzo “Capt” (NY) de Castro; sisters-in-laws: Hazel de Castro (STT), Lucia de Castro (NY), Lydia de Castro (BVI), Bianca de Castro (NY); brother-in-law: George Bell; nieces and nephews four generations strong: John and Norma Gimenez and family, Rose and Oliver Christian and family, Winston and Bertha Pickering and family, Peggy Pickering and family, Roy and Blanche Pickering and family, Bert and Lorna Chesterfield and family, Cheryl and Gary Sprauve and family, Avery Chesterfield and family, Michelle Bell and family, Gregory Bell and family, Marcia and Alan Richardson and family, Rowan and Tracey de Castro and family, Donald and Vanessa de Castro, Jr. and family, Frances de Castro, Frances and Lawrence Walters and family, Mary de Castro and family, Rosie de Castro and family, Malcolm de Castro and family, Sonny de Castro and family, Iris de Castro and family, Lambert and Judy de Castro, Naomi Daniel, Eileen and Bato Lloyd, Terrance de Castro, Alonzo de Castro, Yoland de Castro, Joan de Castro; special cousins Dante and Janet de Castro, Pearl Varlack, and special great-great-nephews Paul Gimenez, Cedric Swan Jr, Rowan de Castro, Philip Saunders, Richard Sasso Jr, Rashawn Sasso, favourite great and great great nieces Cheryl Sprauve, Peggy Pickering, Stella M. Saunders, Daniella Saunders; special friends Vadis and Walter Springette, Gladys Isles, Bishop Elliott Thomas, Dean Thomas W. Gibbs III, Rudy Galiber, Alfred Christopher, Rudolph Slack, O’Neal Sackey, Cecil Georges; caregiver Alga Holder and many many more family members and friends too numerous to mention.

The publishers, management and staff of The Island Sun newspaper extend their deepest and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved.