Friends and colleagues of Joe and Cristina Kessler are invited to gather for an online memorial celebration to be held at noon on Sunday, Aug. 18.
The Kessler and Dombrowski families have asked participants to join them on Zoom and raise a glass at 12 p.m. EDT for a simultaneous, worldwide toast (with a drink of their choice).
Following the toast, family, friends, and colleagues will be able to share remarks and remembrances in smaller break-out rooms. Participants will receive a Zoom link to the event after registering here.
Joe and Cristina Kessler were well-known throughout the Virgin Islands. Joe served as president of the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park for 17 years before retiring in 2018. Cristina, an activist and a writer, was best known in the territory for her children’s book “Hope Is Here” about a bird that made regular migrations to St. Croix.
They both died instantly on April 25 when a train smashed into their 22-foot RV as they were driving across railroad tracks in rural Taylorville, Illinois.
The couple loved to travel and were on vacation at the time of their death. During their lives, they had visited more than 100 countries, served in the Peace Corps, and worked in Africa, Asia, and South America.
“Two things are true about Joe and Cristina,” said Jeff Kessler, Joe’s brother. “They have family, friends, and colleagues around the world, and they loved to celebrate.”
The timing of the event is designed to allow participation from multiple time zones, he said.
