TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin SXM acquaintances who left an impression on you.

in my 30 plus yrs. of visiting the Island I have encountered a lot of nice people. Have you?
do you remember Anjou of Coupe Coy? Cuthbert St.Bernard the Casino Mgr. Timeshare salesman Fleming of Royal Palm. he would charter a boat and take you to Anguilla.or Johan and Clarie of the Atrium sales. Johan was a radio personality from Holland, he sold my family our T.S.at the Atrium.He loved the Island and Dawn Beach so much that when he passed away he elected to have his ashes broadcast over Dawn Beach
,I remember Andy Maccauley,a Pelican salesman who would never forget your name or where you live. a fine young man.
or Astrid who couldn't do enough for you at Pelican.there were so many fine people on the Friendly Island.

Interesting you mentioned Cuthbert St. Bernard. Long before Port de Plaisance and Princess and other island casinos he was a night manager at Mullet Bay Resort and Casino. We got to know him over the years and he was instrumental in telling us about Grenada where I believe he originally came from, and actually set us up with a contact there for our first trip. He and my husband still exchange annual birthday greetings with each other. I believe he's still living in Brooklyn with one of his daughters. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Richard at Gutside restaurant
Andy at Andy & Cheryls

The last time I saw Cuthbert was at the old Airport. He was seeing his daughter off to NY. She was attending school. We were on the same flight. Cuthbert was a tall gent. When I would run into him at the Princess he would look down and remark about my "thinning hair". a nice guy.
regards,

Jim C.

Jim,

That's funny and another coincidence since we ran into his daughter, Nadia, on a plane going to SXM one year and last year we were on the same Jet Blue flight as Cuthbert coming back to JFK and we actually missed each other both in boarding and on the plane. It was only through a telephone conversation after the fact we realized we were on the same flight. We had a foreword seat but boarded late and Cuthbert was seated more towards the rear of the plane and boarded earlier than us.

it's a small world...............but I wouldn't want to paint it.

regards

Junior Bruney, Taxi 163, and his entire family. He was our taxi driver in 1991 and the friendship continues today. He made a trip to OH in 2000 and spent a week with us.

Definitely Cheryl and Andy (of Andy and Cheryl's, formerly Baywatch, formerly Surf Club South) and Willie at Club O.

John <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Walter Farley, who died last year: Marisol and Geraldine, all of Divi Little Bay, with whom we look forward to renewing acquaintances each of our bi-annual visits. Geraldine corresponds with Roslyn via facebook and calls us from time to time. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

I'll always remember Henney Ruckert who I first met at Oyster Bay Beach Resort. Henney was a timeshare salesman for the resort and always did the orientation in the courtyard on Sunday morning at the resort. He always reminded me of the Peter O'Toole character in the movie Club Paradise.... Haven't heard from Henney in several years and hope he is doing well.

One person who made an impression on me and still does is Melvin Hodge. From the first time I heard him sing at Cheri's Cafe to hear him now at Port de Plaisance he is still the nicest guy you will ever meet. Also in 1984 there was a guy at the Divi named Steve. He was the happiest guy every day and always had your chair ready and anything else you needed.

Andy and Cheryl who became good friends that we would see socially on and off the island.

Bruno and his welcoming ways who we've rented from more than several times and dined at Le Cottage. Corrina who most recently had bartendered at Bikini Beach, lovely woman and great bartender. Cecilia from Mary's Boon who is no longer there but still on the island half the year. We try to have dinner with her and Nigel at least once a year and had the pleasure of hosting dinner locally with them a few years back.

The artist Lady Ruby Bute who has a wealth of knowledge about the island and always gives you a small gift when you visit with her. I first met her on an Art Tour organized by SXM Norm.

I'm also impressed with marquetry artist Jean-Pierre Straub. His work is beautiful, and his gentle spirit is a joy.

And then there's Bernadine, animal lover and rum shop proprietor. A wonderful woman.

Mickey from Tropicana Rental Car. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

I would say that the reason we go back is because of the acquaintances. Business owners, tourist, locals and those that have taken up residency on island. Sure the beaches and the food have a bit to do with it but the reason we fly as far as we do has much more to do with the people than any other reason.

Two many people to list.

Cheers,
Todd

Ray Minelli, an honest timeshare salesman who would have warned a lot of Caravanserai buyers not to.
Ric and his wife who ran a great sports bar/restaurant.
Elisa Cohen who led the explosion of beach bars on Orient.
Neil Roebert who still provides a memorable sailing trip.
The staff at Mary's Boon who always make you feel appreciated.

This is such an interesting thread! I remember when we first started reading TTOL, before we actually went to the island, I would see everyone saying, "Say hi to so and so from John and Julie." I used to laugh and think, "do you really think they remember you?" What a joke.

Well, it's not a joke, and now I realize that. Not only the fellow vacationers who we see year after year, but also the business owners and restaurateurs, the local residents, and the ex-pats who have become our friends.

I started to list names, but there are so many, and I'm afraid I'd inadvertently leave someone out.

We met Ric and Kathy before they even had the place on Front St. Wendell and I were there for Ric's memorial service several years ago. Very nice people.

I have way to many to list but will give a few, Walter at Divi for sure, Keroch (sp?) who is now at westin, Roger at Divi, and i will only call him Bush Doctor, also at divi, since he treated something i had last year that had been going on a long time and my doctors werent helping. He told me what to do, i did it, and it healed more than it had in 6 months with traditional med. there are lots more but dont want to bore people

Ray Minelli - miss him dearly, he was truly a wonderful man.
Jeannie from Shop & Drop - she is simply the best!!!
Mikey - one of the lead singers of Sweet Chocolate Band - it wasn't the same last November without him.
Maurice - singing bartender at Soprano's Piano Bar
Bernard - worked as service staff at Caravanserai, he was always available to help in whatever way he could.
DJ Brown - pool DJ & activities coordinator at Sonesta Maho Pool
One of the Bartenders at Cheri's Café - I don't know his name but every year as soon as he sees us walking up to the bar, he starts making our favorite drink. The fact the he remembers what we drink with all of the thousands of people that visit Cheri's is always impressive. He calls us "my ladies".
Pietro - old chef from Sopranos, now works at Basilico in Cupecoy Bay. We have made a lifelong friend!!!

Neil - Celine, Mickey - formerly at Tropicana, Tamara from Ric's and Celine, Nina at Royal Islander and James at the Towers.

Betty Vaughn and her late husband Earl. For over 30 years I've been staying at the Horny Toad in Simpson Bay. Much of always staying in the same venue is Betty. An old Swamp Yankee who makes you feel as part of the Toadie family.

Two more outstanding people! I only met Earl a couple of times and continue to see Betty, whether staying at the Toad or not. Betty is always interesting to talk to. Can't forget Gloria and Cherry either.

Andy and Cheryl of course. Also Raymon at Il Nettuno and his "Washington Redskins shrine" just inside the entry way...

Willy @ the Perch.
Alain and Myra @ AAA Rental.

Peggy

And Gerry from RI, a fixture on OB for decades.
His infectious laughter and booming voice are unmistakable.
Very generous with his time assisting the new ladies to get acclimated to the C/O beach and to the art of "noodling"!

Smiley and Sugar are the names of the bartenders at Cheri's. Can't believe that no one has mentioned Neil Rooney.

Neil is giving an ongoing impression.

Speaking of Capt. Bly. I wonder what ever happened to the peg leg.

SXM??? Wendell

I have to mention Lesley Bruce, from Kenny's Car Rental. So pleasant, so obliging, so dependable.

Also Jean who used to be the "beach boy" at Le String. Someone told us he had gone to open a restaurant. We'll have to look for it next trip.

Living on SXM for 15 years I really can't list them all. Just know that I have many more friends on the island than I could ever have hoped for in a large metropolis from where I came. God bless them all!

"Flash" Tropical...played great steel pan music and sang at Turtle Pier(and other places). Really nice, soft spoken guy...we would buy him a drink at the bar during a break(only non-alcoholic beverage). Sadly, he passed away a number of years ago. Often wonder what happened Christine(the lovely singer who accompanied him for the last few years). I play his discs when I need an SXM fix at home!
And often think of Ray M ..a great guy! Hope his son Anthony is doing well.

Sadly, Jean's restaurant didn't make it; I heard it was a victim of hurricane Gonzalo. He was working the beach at Dreams when we were there this past December.

Jean is now at Rainbow.

Really ? He was at Dreams two weeks ago...

Ray was a good soul. I would appreciate hearing an update on him, if anyone knows.

Yes, I would like to know also how Anthony is doing.

SXM??? Wendell

Joseph from COCO's we met him our first visit 12 years ago and he made our visit special. He is definitely missed.

John who put the umbrellas out at Pedro's years ago and lately works for Cheryl. He made some nice sand sculptures for us all to enjoy and remembers us each year.

If Ray M. is Ray Mann, he passed away in 2011. And you're right, he was a good soul, along with Carl Stone.
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