A memorial celebration of the life of Arthur Lincoln Andrew will be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the American Legion Hall on St. Thomas. Art passed away peacefully at his home on St. Thomas in the company of his loving wife of 45 years, Toya Andrew, and son, Skip Williams, on Aug. 10.
Art was born in St. Louis City, Missouri, June 12 1931. He was a graduate engineer of the University of Illinois, where the Andrew family had a farm in nearby Palmyria, Illinois. Art was adventurous, smart and curious young man which led to many jobs from a bucket factory, boat yard supervisor to seal hunting. After college, he went into the Navy and after many difficult trials, became an Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) “frogman,” the first Navy Seals. He was deployed to St. Thomas to the Navy submarine base to train other Navy UDTs. He loved St. Thomas and it loved him. After his tour of duty, in 1957, he married and moved to St. Thomas where he lived for a while on their boat, The Savage. Art engineered, designed, constructed and inspired many homes and facilities on St. Thomas including Lionel Roberts Ballpark in those early years. He taught many at the university to enable them to get the various licenses. He employed many young men to get them started in the construction business. In 1967, Art married Toya and her three children and together they had one.
Art continued to be a forward thinking engineer as he designed and built Coral World. He built the underwater tower on land at Coki Point and towed it around the point to sink it down to the natural observation spot where it now rests. He built a similar observatory in the Bahamas and restored one in Elat Israel. He was asked to build bigger and better in Eygpt. He declined; It was too far from St. Thomas. Art re-engineered sewage and water lines, restored the St. Thomas Synagogue, built International Plaza and many other Projects for Public Works, Vitelco, Innovative, WAPA and Tutu Park Mall, to name a few.
Art was very proud of the several historic projects he worked on with his good friend Alton Adams. He loved diving and spear fishing and when ear problems arose, he took up sailing. Like with all things he tried, he would not quit until he thought he had it right. He won the 1st V.I. Gold in the Central American Games in Santo Domingo. 1975, he was the V.I. Finn class sailor at the 1976 Olympics. He was a competitive sailor and an excellent bridge player, and was very good at paddle ball. Art was always sharing his knowledge, experience and wry sense of humor to help people. Art with son Skip taught many Boy Scouts how to sail sunfish. He was a founding member of the V.I. Toastmasters, a charter member of the St. Thomas Yacht Club, a long standing member of the V.I. Ham Radio Club, the V.I. Historical Trust and the Engineers Assoc. Art was a local television star in the 50s, when TV came on at 5 p.m. and went off at 11 p.m. They had a group that played charades. He has been many things to many people and he has always been charming, fun, humble and a gentleman.
Art Andrew is survived by his wife, Toya; their children: Ashana O’Connell, Teri Williams- Smith Maj. Hal (Skip) Williams; grandchildren: Morgan, Murrin, Anahoe and Lowell O’Connell, Taylor Smith, Jonathan Williams, Mark and Courtney Williams; great-grandchildren: Ezra and Samara Williams; mother-in-law, Rachel Terry, brother, James Andrew; sisters: Lucy Butterworth and Julia Gammon; and very special friends: Alton Adams and Pete Crowther. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, please send your donations to the St. Thomas Historical Trust Inc. in memory of Art Andrew.
All arrangements are by Davis Funeral Home, 774-1474.
