A voice of experience, reason, insight and common sense has been stilled with the death of Geraldo Guirty at age 93.
A veteran correspondent, commentator, political activist and observer of life, past and present, in the Virgin Islands, Guirty for decades chronicled the contributions of islanders, both in the territory and in New York's Harlem district.
As recently as last week, he was seen taking his constitutional near the home he shared with his wife of 60 years, Louise, in the area of Seventh-day Adventist Street in Charlotte Amalie.
Fit and feisty, amazing unbent by his years, Guirty was ever the gentleman — dressed in a suit, seldom seen on the street without his hat, invariably tipping it to ladies he passed by, whether he knew them or not. He was an inveterate walker, seen frequently downtown, although his steps had slowed somewhat with time.
Asked by a relative newcomer to the Virgin Islands many years ago whether his first name was pronounced "Heraldo" or "Djeraldo," Guirty replied with good humor that it was the latter, explaining: "I'm not Spanish. I'm a Virgin Islander."
Just a year ago he resisted a ruffian who attempted to steal his wallet on the street near his home, wresting the young thug to the ground and hanging on to his property as the fellow fled.
Guirty was for many years a correspondent for The Amsterdam News, New York's influential newspaper serving the black community. He was also a regular contributor to Jamaica's Daily Gleaner and the British Guyana Daily Chronicle and wrote for The Home Journal on St. Thomas and The Avis on St. Croix.
While living in New York, he helped to found the V.I. Public Affairs Council. He testified before Congress on the proposed 1954 revisions to the Organic Act governing the territory and was a delegate to the third and fourth Virgin Islands constitutional conventions held in 1979 and 1981.
For many years, he wrote the occasional "Sixtonian" column of reminiscences and political commentary that appeared in The Virgin Islands Daily News.
With Dr. Alfred Heath and attorney John Maduro, he formed the Grand Knights of Columbus on St. Thomas. He was active with the Friends of Denmark and the St. Thomas Historical Trust and served on the Election Law Reform Commission. He was at one point in charge of public relations for the old Department of Commerce and was an elected member of the Board of Elections.
In 1989, his first book, "Harlem's Danish-American West Indians, 1899-1964," was published. Two years later, his book of local reminiscences and historical research, "Vignettes 'bout Amalia," appeared.
Guirty was admitted to Roy L. Schneider Hospital on Saturday. He died Monday at the hospital.
Funeral services are set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Arrangements for the viewing were pending with the John Thomas Memorial Chapel.
