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Friday, March 29, 2024
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Wife of Murdered Man Hopes for Legacy of Healing

Lucinda Schutt, whose husband, Sean O’Connell, was shot and killed while driving home on the evening of April 1, has a solution for the many in the community who have reached out to her, asking how they can help.

In a heartfelt letter to the Source Thursday, Schutt offered them a way of honoring Sean’s life.

Education, she says, is the answer. Specifically, the education of one young man the couple had taken under their wing.

Schutt said, "For those who have been asking how they can help, I strongly believe that if this person who murdered Sean had an education, he would not have done this horrific crime.”

Shutt then spoke of the couple’s efforts to rescue a young boy from the same path of senseless violence and ignorance.

"Over the past year," Schutt wrote, "we have taken on the responsibility of rescuing a very talented, bright young Haitian boy named Franzso Severre. With the help of many generous friends, we enrolled him at Antilles School, the best college preparatory school on St. Thomas.

"Sean has provided nightly tutoring, tough love, and solid guidance for Franzso, and his passing will leave a huge hole in this young man’s life. A very real way of honoring Sean would be to support Franzso’s continuing education," Schutt said.

To accomplish this, she said, the Sean O’Connell Scholarship Fund has been established at Antilles School.

Contributions may be sent to: Advancement Office, Antilles School, Frenchman’s Bay 16-1, St. Thomas, VI 00802. Schutt asks that checks be made out to Antilles School and in the subject line to include “The Sean O’Connell Scholarship Fund.”

A "Remembrance Service" will be held this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Fred McGrath Funeral Home in Bronxville, N.Y., north of New York City. The calling hours will be from noon to 1 p.m., and a reception will follow the service.

"Sean wouldn’t have it any other way!" Schutt said.

Upon her return to the island, she said a date for a local memorial service will be set.

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