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Judith Towle’s Appreciation for the Dedication of the Dr. Edward L. Towle Island Systems Environmental Collection at HLSCC
On January 12th, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College at Paraquita Bay, Tortola, British Virgin Islands held a major ceremony to commemorate the dedication of the College’s Caribbean Environmental reference collection at the Dr. Edward L. Towle Island Systems Environmental Collection. Following is an excerpt from Mrs. Judith Towle’s (founding Vice President of Island Resources Foundation) letter of appreciation for the dedication ceremony.
Dear Dr. Wheatley:
On behalf of myself and the Board of Trustees and staff of Island Resources Foundation, I take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation for the renaming of the former IRF library in honour and memory of my late husband, Dr. Edward L. Towle, and for the dedication/renaming ceremony held at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College on 12th January.
It was an honor to be seated between two former presidents—Dr. O’Neal and yourself—to listen to the tributes to Edward and the history of IRF’s collaboration with the College; to hear from three distinguished HLSCC presidents; to learn more about the place of the Collection within the institution’s strategic planning; and to be surprised by Noni Georges’s depiction of her online discovery of the IRF library resources whilst this native daughter of the BVI was studying at a
faraway Canadian university.Ms. Bernadine Louis, in her expert handling of the moderator’s duties, and then, along with members of her Learning Resource Centre staff, in the tour she organised of the Collection’s facility, added so much to the morning’s dedication, as did the remarks of Mrs. Eugenie
Glasgow, former Director of the LRC. The musical contribution by student Jareem Williams and the always artfully and tastefully executed contributions from the College’s Culinary Arts staff all served to make what was for me one of my happiest days since my husband’s passing now more than three years ago.Ed treasured his association with the British Virgin Islands and, in particular, with the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College. It was an honour for him to serve on the governing board of the College, and he certainly was proudest of the final home the library collection found at the Learning Resource Centre at Paraquita Bay.
Some years prior to his death, Ed was recognised at a ceremony arranged by the College at the J.R. O’Neal Botanic Garden in Road Town. Coming as it did at a time when his health was failing and his years of service to the Caribbean were drawing to a close, that evening meant so very much to Ed. Often in our busy lives we do not take sufficient time to pause, to recognise, to say thank you. The College, and the British Virgin Islands, did pause and recognize and say thank you on that evening, and it would remain one of Ed’s fondest memories in his final years.
And now, with the renaming of the Dr. Edward L. Towle Island Systems Environmental Collection in his memory and the dedication ceremony last week, the College has once again paused to recognise Ed’s service and his library, and to say thank you—and for this I am very grateful.
Yours sincerely,
Judith A. Towle, MPA
Vice President
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