Freddie Perez, devoted partner of Don Bailey for 13 years, took his life on Aug. 29, in the sadness and loneliness of depression. He was born Nov. 13, 1959, in Penuelas, P.R. He is survived by his mother Gertrudis Perez, six brothers, four sisters, and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Close and special friends on St. Croix are deeply saddened that Freddie traveled a path from joy to sorrow and chose to die in this way.
Freddie’s greatest joy was horses. He had an emotional and spiritual connection to horses that did not come from experience but from his heart and cannot be explained. In recent years Freddie enjoyed his vacations as a member of the Chute and Arena Crews at several National Gay Rodeo Association rodeo events in the western USA and Canada. Freddie also vacationed on several cattle ranches in Montana and with his friend Mark Gray, an equine veterinarian in Louisiana. If there is reincarnation, we pray that next time Freddie will be a cowboy.
Freddie came to St. Croix in 1990 with his partner Leo Rivas to help rebuild the Caravelle Hotel and Carambola Golf Course Villas after the devastation from Hurricane Hugo. His meticulous attention to detail landed him positions in purchasing and payroll for Lanco Corp. Freddie stayed on St. Croix for the construction of the “cat” cracker at the Hess Oil Refinery. He began working as a Hovensa employee in 1996 as a process operator, then in the Process Safety Management Department, and finally in Central Maintenance as a document specialist.
Upon the death of Leo, in 1994, Freddie was supported by Father Al Bradley of Holy Cross Catholic Church, and by Lenny and Sally Schwan, who gave him a home, a job and endless love.
Freddie and Don met in 1995. They began dating in 1996, and moved to Estate La Reine in 1997. In 1999, they purchased a house in the Estate and made it home with two dogs, a cat and a tank of fish. Their pastimes and pleasures were landscaping, home improvement, planning vacations and dreaming of the future.
Freddie was loved by all who met him, more than he ever knew, more than he could appreciate.
A memorial to celebrate the live of Freddie Perez will be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 5, at the St. Croix Reformed Church in Kingshill. A reception will follow.
Arrangements are being handled by the James Memorial Funeral Home.
