Antonie Evert Vanderperk, also known as “Tony,” of Frederiksted passed away on Friday, July 14. He was 78 years old.
Tony Vanderperk was born in 1944 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and immigrated to America as a young boy. He received his bachelor’s degree in art from the John Herron School of Art of Indiana University. He earned his master’s in Fine Art from the Yale Graduate School of Art and Architecture.
After his first show in 1974 at the Susan Caldwell Gallery, Martin Ries, an art critic reviewing his show for Arts Magazine, referred to him as a virtuoso. He has been a lecturer and adjunct assistant professor of art in New York at Hunter College, City University of New York; The New School, Parsons School of Design and Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.
Tony Vanderperk moved to St. John in 1990 and to St. Croix in 1995, making the big island his permanent home. Here he met and married his lovely wife, Luz Maldonado.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Alida de Callafon and his father, Jacob Vanderperk.
He is survived by his wife, Luz Maldonado Vanderperk; his brother, Roeland Jacob; his pet, Rusty; and a host of friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Schuster’s Crematorium LLC.
