HERMUS SELWYN LIVERPOOL
September 2, 1920 - September 13, 2009. Passed peacefully at home at the age of 89, after a long courageous struggle with Chronic Kidney Disease and Dementia, with wife Marjorie, daughter Diane and sister Carmelle at his bedside. Hermus will be sadly missed by many relatives and friends.
Born in Chili Village, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, West Indies to Samuel and Elfrida Liverpool on September 2, 1920, Hermus received his primary and secondary education in St. Vincent before migrating to Montreal, Canada in 1949. There he worked during the day and in the evening obtained his B. Com. Degree from Sir George Williams College (now Concordia University) in 1956. In 1958, he received a Diploma in Management and Business Administration from McGill University.
At the same time, during the early emigration of Vincentians to Canada in the 1960's, most of these newcomers found a home away from home at Hermus' Montreal residence. He was also one of the founders of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association of Montreal.
In 1967, Hermus and his family moved to Toronto where he became the Business Administrator at the newly opened Centennial Community College. Later, he became Director of Business Programs in the Continuing Education Division.
In 1978, he took a one-year Sabbatical from Centennial to obtain his Master of Arts from the University of Reading in England. In 1985, he retired.
Always seeking new goals and anxious to make a contribution to his homeland, Hermus returned to St. Vincent in 1986 for four years. There he became Executive Director of the Vincentian Publishing Co. Ltd. and also Acting Managing Director of N.B.C. Radio 705, and was appointed to the Board of the Caribbean News Agency (CANA).
While in Toronto, he retained his connection with Vincentians by becoming one of the founders of the new association being formed in December 1968. A mere three months later, he took over as president upon the resignation of his brother, Dr. Allan Liverpool. He served as president for two years but continued his participation in the Association. He was made an Honorary Life Member in 1970s as a result of his contribution to the advancement of the Association.
Upon his return to Toronto in 1990, he spent some of his later years volunteering for Scarborough Support Services and tutoring but his health slowly declined. He died on September 13, 2009 and will be remembered for his unique sense of humour, his infectious laughter and his ability to make people feel good.
A Memorial Service to celebrate his life was held on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the Rosewood Church of the Nazarene, 657 Milner Ave., Scarborough. In lieu of flowers the family, upon Herman's earlier directions requested that contributions in his memory may be made payable to: "St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association of Toronto Inc." for their Scholarship Fund. Mailing address: P.O. Box 80066, Don Valley Village P. O., Toronto, Ontario, M2J 0A1.
Through their effort and contributions received, the family and the Association have since agreed to name of the 2010 scholarships in honour of Hermus Liverpool.