Jan. 4, 2009 — Eulalie Rohlsen Rivera, culture bearer, educator, storyteller and political trailblazer, passed away Friday at the age of 101.
Rivera was born Aug. 2, 1907, in Frederiksted to Carl Rohlsen and Henrietta Williams. (See "Crucian to the Bone: A Tribute to Eulalie 'Marlee' Rivera.")
Among her many accomplishments and ties to the culture of the Virgin Islands over the course of a rich and colorful life, she was one of the last living witnesses of ceremonies marking the transfer of the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the United States in 1917.
"On Transfer Day I was standing somewhere over there," Rivera said in 2007 during a story-telling luncheon in Frederiksted, pointing between the Buddhoe Park bandstand and Fort Frederik. "People were lined up here, with groups up and down the sides and there were flags out everywhere. A man came by singing and waving his arms around, and I saw another man come and knock him down."
Rivera was 9 that day in March 1917. (See "Storytellers Provide Vivid Accounts of Transfer Day Era.")
Until well after her 100th birthday, Rivera — affectionately known as "Marlee" to all her friends — still lived by herself in the same small white house where she'd been for more than 50 years. It has been said she was the first woman to ride a bicycle on St. Croix.
She wrote an autobiography, Growing Up in St. Croix, published in 1987. The book is an account of her life that reflects the attitudes and outlook of the islands during that time.
Because her mother died soon after she was born, Rivera was raised in homes for children. There she was instilled with the love of learning, and was selected by her teachers to help instruct the kindergarten class. This sowed the seeds of her teaching career, which would span more than 30 years. (See "St. Croix Teacher and Civic Leader Begins Her Second Century.")
Rivera taught at the Christiansted kindergarten and later at the Diamond School. When the Diamond School closed 25 years later, she was transferred to La Grande Princess School. In 1960, she was assigned to Claude O. Markoe School, and remained on its faculty until she retired in 1974.
Long conscious of the need to preserve Crucian culture, she helped start the St. Croix Christmas Festival, which has just completed its 56th year. That festival is St. Croix's biggest, most popular celebration of its Caribbean culture and its biggest tourist draw, encompassing calypso competitions, pageants, traditional cooking fairs and big carnival parades.
She served as president of the Women's League of St. Croix, supervisor of the Lutheran Church Sunday School, charter member of the St. Croix Business and Professional Women's Club, and member of the Frederiksted Democratic Club, Frederiksted Hospital Auxiliary, V.I. League of Women Voters, Committee on Aging and Friends of Denmark. She was one of the founders of the Independent Citizens Movement political party on St. Croix.
In 1967, the Frederiksted Business and Professional Women's Club named Rivera woman of the year. That same year, the faculty and staff of the Claude O. Markoe School honored her as teacher of the year. On Feb. 19, 1974, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands approved Act 3521, which renamed the Grove Place Elementary School the Eulalie Rivera School in honor of her years of devoted service.
In 1980, Rivera ran for a seat on the V.I. Board of Education. She won and became a member of the certification, buildings, and curriculum committees. She would serve on the board for more than 10 years in various capacities, including vice chair and chairperson.
She credited her long life to her early diet.
"My mother died in childbirth, and I was raised in the Queen Louise Home and the Ebenezer Orphanage," she said in 2007. "The food we ate strengthened our bodies."
The entire community mourns her passing.
"Ms. Rivera was a tremendously well-loved and cherished member of the community who brought true happiness and joy to both young and old alike," said Gov. John deJongh Jr. upon learning of her passing. "Her passion for life and her calm, inner peace was both inspiring and engaging. She will be dearly missed."
Delegate Donna M. Christensen also paid tribute.
"My family, staff and I are deeply saddened and extend our condolences to her entire circle of family and friends at this time of sorrow," she said. "I am sure that the whole community shares the grief of her family at this sad time, but we are also immensely proud of the accomplishments and contributions she made during her long and precious lifetime."
Funeral services will take place in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Frederiksted, the church Rivera attended her entire life. The date and time will be announced. Her grandson, Sen. Ronald E. Russell, will host a tribute to her life Saturday on the "Beyond Politics" Radio Program on 970 AM, WSTX.
"We have been collecting some of her writings to read and some tapes of her speaking through the years," Russell said Sunday. "We're going take calls and give people a chance to pay tribute. The church is small, so this will be for the whole community."
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