July 14, 2008 — Former Sen. William S. Harvey died Wednesday at Florida Hospital-Fish Memorial in Orange City, Fla. at age 80.
Harvey served in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Legislatures.
When running again in 1986, he said in a Pride Magazine interview that education was his top priority.
"And I know how to make the system work for the people," he said when asked why he was running again.
Before and after his Legislative service, he spent many years in local government. He headed the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency from 1985 to 1991.
His other government service included jobs in Gov. Melvin Evans' office, the Office of Civil Defense, the Family Education Program, the Labor Department, and the U.S. Postal Service.
He served in World War II and received a Victory Medal and an Army Occupational Medal.
Harvey was a member of the American Legion Post 85, American Red Cross, V.I. Businessmen’s Association, St. Croix Community Band, Boys Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, St. Croix Federal Credit Union, St. Croix Public Information Association, Community Hospital Organizations, Boys Scouts of America, Little League, and many other community service organizations.
"His years in other community service organizations highlight his dedication to the territory and his overall activism and concern for others. He will be missed," Gov. John deJongh Jr. said in a statement Monday.
Harvey, who studied journalism at New York University, was also a local radio broadcaster, newspaper columnist and television personality.
"He loved St. Croix very much and worked very hard to serve our people," Delegate Donna M. Christensen said in a press release issued Friday. "When he retired to Florida, he took the public service bug with him."
According to a funeral-home-supplied death notice, Harvey retired to Florida in 1993. He served eight years on the Deltona, Fla. city commission including a stint as vice mayor.
Christensen said that Harvey lived a long and productive life, one in which he served the people around him.
"Those of us who benefited from his service will remember him well," Christensen said.
Harvey was born in New York but grew up on St. Croix.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Ruby, and four sons and 10 daughters. They are William Harvey Franklin, William S. Harvey, James William Mack, James Benn, Valerie Harvey, Evelyn Harvey Grubbs, Vanessa Harvey Hinds, Vivian Harvey Parquette, Jamilah Harvey Moorehead, Venetia Harvey Velasquez, Josephine A. Christian, B.J. Young, Dionne K. Mack, and Patricia Benn Simms.
He also had 42 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Celebration of Life Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Trinity Assembly of God Church in Deltona. Interment with military honors will follow at Deltona Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made in Harvey's memory to the City of Deltona Scholarship Fund, 2345 Providence Blvd., Deltona, FL 32725 or to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129.
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