Ofelio "Colto" Juan Garcia

Ofelio “Colto” Juan Garcia, a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and entrepreneur of Bronx, New York, died unexpectedly on April 16, 2020, at the age of 70 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Hospital Center in Bel Air, Maryland while visiting his son.

Colto is survived by his wife Beverly A. Baptiste; his children: Raquel Garcia, Rochelle Lee, Roberto Garcia, Roxanna Garcia-Telsey, Richard Baptiste, Rafael Garcia, Rodney Garcia, Raymond Garcia, and Rhea Pilgrim-Garcia; 24 grandchildren and one great-grandchild; his brother, Raul Garcia; his sister, Juana Garcia, and his brother, Sylvio Garcia; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He is predeceased by his parents; his son, Richard Hicks; his brothers, Julio Concepcion Garcia, Pablo Garcia Jr., and Franklin Garcia; and his sisters, Maria Garcia and Anna Garcia.

Colto was born in St. Thomas on February 12, 1950, to Pablo Garcia and Mercedes Rios-Garcia. He graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School in 1969. Upon graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He attended both basic training and field artillery training at Fort Sil, Oklahoma. He proudly served in Vietnam. After leaving Vietnam, he briefly lived in New York City but eventually relocated back home to St. Thomas. While living in St. Thomas, he worked for various employers to include: Seafarers International Union, Prinair Airlines, as well as the Legislature of the U.S. Virgin Islands as Chief of Staff for the Honorable Senator Hugo Dennis Jr. for two consecutive terms.

In 1985, Colto moved to the Bronx, New York, along with Beverly, their children, as well as his oldest daughter. While in New York City, he was employed with the New York City Board of Education, and the Department of Health. However, it was as an entrepreneur that he truly thrived. This entrepreneurial spirit was ingrained in him at a young age from observing his dad Pablo provide for the family first with a cook shop at Market Square and years later, with the “Purple Shop” Grocery store in Bovoni.

Although Colto spent 35 years living in New York City, he never forgot about St. Thomas. His love for St. Thomas was evident by his constant presence every year at St. Thomas Carnival spectating or participating in the Fresh Water Yankee Carnival troupe. Everyone that knew him enjoyed his infectious smile and endearing personality. Carnival provided Colto, like many Virgin Islanders living aboard, the opportunity to reconnect with classmates and friends that he had not seen regularly or in years. Also, most importantly, those trips back home allowed him to spend time with his children and family members who lived there. As a member of the Fresh Water Yankee Association, he also got the opportunity to play an instrumental role in civic duties both in the Bronx as well as St Thomas due to the association’s generosity in helping with hurricane relief efforts as well as their yearly Christmas toy drives.

Most people that know Colto knew that he was passionate about baseball. He was involved in the game for most of his life as both a Little League coach with the Emile Griffith East Little League in St. Thomas as well as Harlem Little League in Manhattan and the Bonnies Baseball Organization in Brooklyn, New York. Also, he served on the committee for the Inter-Islands Men’s Double-A Baseball League at Lionel Robert Stadium in St. Thomas. His strong passion and love for the game were imparted to all his sons as he taught them the game or provided meaningful advice while they played throughout their childhood and teenage years. He enjoyed taking his daughters swimming in Cokie Point Beach and Magens Bay during Carnival. He was amazed by their swimming abilities. He loved seeing his two daughters play the flute, his son play the drums, and all three play the steel pan in the U.S. Virgin Island Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra. Each summer, Colto would take all of his children to the Belmont Racetrack, Roberto Clemente State Park & Pool, weekly Sunday fellowships at 145th St Park in Harlem, and Shea Stadium to watch the New York Mets. He had many fond memories of their time together in St. Thomas and New York. Colto was very proud of the accomplishments of all his children and grandchildren.

Colto enjoyed traveling. He made a promise to himself at an early age that he would sail on a cruise ship one day. He became enamored with them as a little kid after seeing many enter and leave St Thomas harbor daily while growing up in Buckhole/Downstreet. He was fortunate to have experienced many ports of call throughout the Caribbean. He especially enjoyed visiting Puerto Rico, which allowed him to visit and reconnect with his family that he loved and adored dearly in Ceiba and Luquillo. Additionally, he loved to visit family or friends wherever he traveled in the States to reminisce about the good ol’ days growing up in Buckhole/Downstreet.

His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone who he interacted with, especially all his children and grandchildren, who he dearly loved. We will miss his fatherly advice, his humor that made us laugh, but most of all, the tears of joy he would shed every time each one of us made him proud. We will always love you, daddy, grandpa, and great-grandpa. Rest in peace until we meet again.

The funeral service for Ofelio "Colto" Juan Garcia will be live at 11AM on Monday, April 27. To view the webcast please visit the "Tribute Wall" tab of the obituary.
To view the graveside service copy and paste the following link into your browser: https://vimeo.com/412422048