Terence A. Chavannes

Terence Anthony Chavannes was born in Kingston, Jamaica on September 19 1926 to Michael Aloysius Chavannes and Marie Victorine Chavannes (nee Janniere). As a young lad, he went to Alpha Elementary School and later matriculated to St. Martins High School. In 1941, after his father died, Terry went off to be an apprentice machinist at the Jamaican Government Railway. In 1944 when WW II was in progress, he was recruited for the Royal Air Force—the call was strong and he went off to England. He became a radar operator plotting courses of planes and ships on the south coast of England. After the war, he returned to Jamaica to discover that jobs were scarce so he made the decision to travel to the US where he spent 3 years working at different jobs before returning to Jamaica. He was able to secure a job at the University of the West Indies where he worked for many years. He then obtained a position as a junior executive in the data processing department at the Jamaica Telephone Company where he worked for many more years. During that time, he met his beloved soul mate, Nina, and they got married in 1958. Terry and Nina and son, Shafto migrated to the United States on April 17, 1970. He obtained a job at the United Parcel Service working in the Damage Control Department. Terry & Nina lived in Brooklyn, NY for a few years until they were able to purchase a lovely home in Westbury, Long Island, New York where they spent many happy years. Terry worked at UPS until ill health forced him to retire in 1988. Following retirement, Terry and Nina moved to Florida in 1988 where they built their dream home (as Terry liked to say, it was their last hurrah). He was an avid gardener; he maintained a well manicured garden. His fruits vegetables and flowers were enjoyed by friends and family. He was also an avid photographer. He developed film and printed pictures in his DIY darkroom in the early days then went digital when it came along. Friends and family marveled at his pictures. He was an avid sport fan. Soccer and track and field were his favorites but he enjoyed all sports. Then there was his love of politics – MSNBC was his station all night until “Morning Joe” show in the mornings. Many of us have experienced his discussion and his insights in the world of politics. Terence had a great affinity of the writings of Omar Khayyam and he would often recite verses. It was food for his soul. He was a lover of music, jazz was his favorite. Terry is predeceased by his loving wife Nina; father Michael, mother Mary Janniere, Sisters Bibsey, Rita, Inez, Dorothy and Brother Mike. Left behind to cherish his memory: Son – Shafto; grandsons Arnulfo, Sheldon and Claude; great granddaughter Mikala; nieces June, Beverly and Denise; Nephews Joe and Maurice and many grand nieces and nephews.