Henry L. Kimelman — former U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, V.I. businessman and local philanthropist — died Monday morning at his home in West Palm Beach, Fla., after a brief illness. His wife, Charlotte, and three children were by his side. He was 88.
Kimelman, along with Charlotte, made major contributions to the V.I. community. Along with providing the initial funding for the development of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, the Kimelmans were long-time contributors to Partners for Health and provided the startup financing for the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute at Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.
Kimelman came to the territory in the 1950s. Career highlights include his service at the helm of the West Indies Corp. from 1969-1980 and his service as chairman and chief executive officer of the Island Block Corp. Before his involvement in national politics, he served as the territory’s first commissioner of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
On the national level, Kimelman also was director and chairman of the executive committee of the Diners Club, served on the board of the American Hotel Association, and received appointments under former U.S. presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter. He was the first U.S. ambassador to receive Haiti’s highest civilian honor, the Grand Cross of Honor and Merit.
Kimelman always had the best interest of the territory at heart, Gov. John deJongh Jr. said in a statement Monday.
"His tenure was a defining time in V.I. history," deJongh said.
The library at Antilles School is named after him, and then-Gov. Roy L. Schneider proclaimed Feb. 4, 1998, as Henry Kimelman Day.
Details about survivors and funeral services will be published when available.
