Ronald Olivacce

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our dear father, husband, brother, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend – Ronald Olivacce. 

Ronald was born in Soufriere, Dominica, on February 9, 1935 to the late Egbert Olivacce and the late Catherine Corriette Olivacce. He is the third of ten children, and since the age of 13, after his father died, he has fostered an attitude of protection and responsibility with his family and friends. 

At the death of his father, he began work on his family farm, tending the animals and planting and harvesting produce. Later, Ronald started as a mason, with L. Rose and Company, a British company that owned an estate in Soufriere.  There, he built structures that still stand today as a monument of his exemplary masonry skills, often lauded by many.  Ronald moved up to other positions with the company until he became the supervisor of the Wall House Estate.  

On December 28, 1961, Ronald married Edith Cuffy, who he contended, in a letter penned to her parents, was “the only one in Soufriere” he felt “could be a wife to [him].” When Ronald passed on October 26, 2020, they were just two months and two days shy of celebrating their 60-year wedding anniversary.

Ronald loved his wife, whom he affectionately called “Zet.” He found joy in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  On each of their birthdays he and Edith would sing a special rendition of the birthday song (wish we had it recorded).  The last time he sang it was on October 11th, on his granddaughter Dominique’s birthday. Although he was weakened by the cancer that ravaged his body, he kept his voice steady as he added harmony to Edith’s melody.

In search of more opportunities for his family, Ronald immigrated, with his wife and children, to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands in 1977. After a long career in the construction industry, he transitioned to the Taxiing and Tourism industry, giving tours throughout the island of St. Thomas. He later became the president of the St. Thomas Taxi Association, a position he held for 15 years. During this time, he helped the association secure a concession at the Crown Bay Dock, making St. Thomas Taxi the second most profitable association on the island.

Ronald has been a religious man throughout his life.  He believes in God and the tenets of Catholicism.  He regularly attended Catholic church and raised his family to attend church on the Lord’s Day.  All through his illness, dad was in prayer.  He believes through faith in Christ and his shed blood on the cross, we are justified before God.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Edith Olivacce; his children, Anthony, Martin, Connell, Justin, Nancy, Vanessa and Ronald Olivacce (two of his children, Michael and Phillip, are deceased); ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; siblings Irene Thomas, Veronica Angol, Joan Olivacce and Seaford Olivacce; Brothers-in-Law, Rawl Angol and George Thomas; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

We will all miss him

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